tinnitus Meniere' Disease

[68mustang]

Berta

I have been doing research on the internet about Meniere's disease. I have found some medical abstracts and reports that state what causes it and some state that the causes are unknown. I don't know much about medical treatises, but are medical abstracts and reports considered treatises?

Acoustic trauma is stated in some of the abstracts and reports as a cause of Meniere's Disease. There is a book that states one of the causes of Meniere's Disease is acoustic trauma.

I am already rated at 10% for tinnitus, which was diagnosed as having been caused by acoustic trauma while working both in US Navy ships' boiler rooms and engine rooms.

How can this information be used if my claim is denied for hearing loss and Meniere's Disease, which were diagnosed by the exam specialist contracted by the VA. If anyone else has any input to provide please do so. Thanks.

68mustang

[sharon]

• 6205 Meniere’s syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):
  • Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus: 100
    
  • Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus: 60
    
  • Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus: 30
    

  [*]NOTE: Evaluate Meniere’s syndrome either under these criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. But do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.

[68mustang]

• 6205 Meniere's syndrome (endolymphatic hydrops):
  • Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, with or without tinnitus: 100
    
  • Hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus: 60
    
  • Hearing impairment with vertigo less than once a month, with or without tinnitus: 30
    

  [*]NOTE: Evaluate Meniere's syndrome either under these criteria or by separately evaluating vertigo (as a peripheral vestibular disorder), hearing impairment, and tinnitus, whichever method results in a higher overall evaluation. But do not combine an evaluation for hearing impairment, tinnitus, or vertigo with an evaluation under diagnostic code 6205.

Thanks Sharon for your response. Some VA decisions on Meniere's that I have seen were denied or approved when there was exposure to acoustic trauma. It does not make sense that some are approved and some are denied. I guess it is all up to a hearing specialist stating that it was most likely caused by your military occupation and hope that VA accepts the diagnosis. Thanks

68mustang