tinnitus Va Decision On Hearing Loss And Meniere's

[68mustang]

Well I got my decision today. Service connection for Meniere's Disease not granted because it was not related to military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss granted at 0% because of military service.

The reason for the denial is that the etiology of Meniere's disease is unknown. The VA also states that the report from the QTC examiner did not relate the Meniere's to my hearing loss and tinnitus. My ENT failed to note the connection between Meniere's Disease and hearing loss, tinnitus, and military service. My ENT not having stated that the Meniere's was connected to military service is a roadblock, which I hope to overcome with my ENT's help. The info that I have found on hadit.com should come in handy. Plus I will also use info I have found on the internet about hearing loss, tinnitus and Meniere's and their relationship.

If my hearing loss gets worse, do I again have to prove it is service related?

Does anyone have any other suggestions on my Meniere's Disease claim?

Thanks.

68mustang

[Meddac]

Meniere's Disease is kinda tough. The etiology is unknown. Excess fluid in the ear, some herpes virus', etc. They just don't know, and that can play in your favor if you can get a doctor to provide a nexus between the two (hearing loss and Meniere's Disease).

You got 0% for the hearing loss. You no longer have to prove it is service related. You will only have to prove it is worse (on increase claims). Meniere's Disease causes hearing loss to worsen progressively in many cases.

Well I got my decision today. Service connection for Meniere's Disease not granted because it was not related to military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss granted at 0% because of military service.

The reason for the denial is that the etiology of Meniere's disease is unknown. The VA also states that the report from the QTC examiner did not relate the Meniere's to my hearing loss and tinnitus. My ENT failed to note the connection between Meniere's Disease and hearing loss, tinnitus, and military service. My ENT not having stated that the Meniere's was connected to military service is a roadblock, which I hope to overcome with my ENT's help. The info that I have found on hadit.com should come in handy. Plus I will also use info I have found on the internet about hearing loss, tinnitus and Meniere's and their relationship.

If my hearing loss gets worse, do I again have to prove it is service related?

Does anyone have any other suggestions on my Meniere's Disease claim?

Thanks.

68mustang

[68mustang]

Meniere's Disease is kinda tough. The etiology is unknown. Excess fluid in the ear, some herpes virus', etc. They just don't know, and that can play in your favor if you can get a doctor to provide a nexus between the two (hearing loss and Meniere's Disease).

You got 0% for the hearing loss. You no longer have to prove it is service related. You will only have to prove it is worse (on increase claims). Meniere's Disease causes hearing loss to worsen progressively in many cases.

Thanks Meddac.

It will be an uphill battle for me,but I have to go back to my ENT to provide a nexus between hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's. Plus I have to turn in copies of medical abstracts, which state that acoustic trauma can cause Meniere's Disease. If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks again.

68mustang

[halos2]

It is difficult to get compensation for hearing loss as the parimeters are steep. A vet can receive bilateral hearing aids yet still be denied The speech recognition areas play a major part in the determination of hearing loss too. The tables utalized rate in the areas of 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 megahertzs and where the vets loss in these areas note if pronound loss or minor. I will see if I can find the parameters used, somewhere I have some. Till then, perhaps someone else may have them handy. The VA will also give the vet ear phones (headset) to use while watching tv, so as to not have the volume blaring, and still if the range is not severe enough 0% stays.

Audiometric results 250,500,1000,1500,2000,3000,4000,6000,8000 all hz; MCL readings;word recognition' tympanometry' ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds; word recognition are the tests they use to make their determinations..will look for ratable readings and post later.

Thanks Meddac.

It will be an uphill battle for me,but I have to go back to my ENT to provide a nexus between hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's. Plus I have to turn in copies of medical abstracts, which state that acoustic trauma can cause Meniere's Disease. If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks again.

68mustang

Edited April 3, 2009 by halos2

[68mustang]

It is difficult to get compensation for hearing loss as the parimeters are steep. A vet can receive bilateral hearing aids yet still be denied The speech recognition areas play a major part in the determination of hearing loss too. The tables utalized rate in the areas of 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 megahertzs and where the vets loss in these areas note if pronound loss or minor. I will see if I can find the parameters used, somewhere I have some. Till then, perhaps someone else may have them handy. The VA will also give the vet ear phones (headset) to use while watching tv, so as to not have the volume blaring, and still if the range is not severe enough 0% stays.

Audiometric results 250,500,1000,1500,2000,3000,4000,6000,8000 all hz; MCL readings;word recognition' tympanometry' ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds; word recognition are the tests they use to make their determinations..will look for ratable readings and post later.

Thanks halos2 for the info. Not being able to hear normally and the ringing in the ears, sometimes depresses me. I can just imagine how bad it will get as I get older.

68mustang

[dizzyvet]

Hey 68,

I currently have a claim in for meniere's. The only advice I can give that seems to help is to get treated for it by the VA. I have had several surgeries and have had some special equipment issued for therapy. I did not submit the claim for it though until I had received the correct diagnosis from my ENT. So I let him reach the conclusion and make the diagnosis and then made the claim about six moths and a couple of surgeries into it. I have not received my decision yet but got a promising sounding response from IRIS stating that they made the decision on the 1st and it is at the RO for accuracy review. At one point during the C&P I notice that at the bottom of the screen that the condition was shown as service connected. I also had an appointment with a VA Neurologist. I can't tell you how important their input is. Neurology is a big part of a meniere's diagnosis. Ultimately they are the ones who end up doing the more advanced surgeries. (I've had 4 now) and lost most of the hearing in my left ear trying to stop the vertigo.

This one is a very slow meticulous process. Even other specialists will contest a Meniere's diagnosis. And I have personally had my Audiologist reffer to it as a "Junk" diagnosis because a lot of doctors who do not want to spend the time with all of the required testing just throw it out there. One important thing to remember is the Meniere's is NEVER secondary to tinnitus or hearing loss. if it is Meniere's it is the cause of those and the aural fullness and rotational vertigo.

Good luck.

Diz

[68mustang]

Hey 68,

I currently have a claim in for meniere's. The only advice I can give that seems to help is to get treated for it by the VA. I have had several surgeries and have had some special equipment issued for therapy. I did not submit the claim for it though until I had received the correct diagnosis from my ENT. So I let him reach the conclusion and make the diagnosis and then made the claim about six moths and a couple of surgeries into it. I have not received my decision yet but got a promising sounding response from IRIS stating that they made the decision on the 1st and it is at the RO for accuracy review. At one point during the C&P I notice that at the bottom of the screen that the condition was shown as service connected. I also had an appointment with a VA Neurologist. I can't tell you how important their input is. Neurology is a big part of a meniere's diagnosis. Ultimately they are the ones who end up doing the more advanced surgeries. (I've had 4 now) and lost most of the hearing in my left ear trying to stop the vertigo.

This one is a very slow meticulous process. Even other specialists will contest a Meniere's diagnosis. And I have personally had my Audiologist reffer to it as a "Junk" diagnosis because a lot of doctors who do not want to spend the time with all of the required testing just throw it out there. One important thing to remember is the Meniere's is NEVER secondary to tinnitus or hearing loss. if it is Meniere's it is the cause of those and the aural fullness and rotational vertigo.

Good luck.

Diz

Diz thanks for the response. Will keep in mind what you said.

68mustang