tinnitus Will This Statement Suffice

[HvyGns38]

Will the following statement in support of claim suffice for a NOD/Denovo review? Do I need to add anything?

This statement in support of claim is made as a follow up to my Notice of Disagreement that was received by VARO XXXXXX on November 8th 2010.

On April 13, 2010 I received a decision letter denying my claim for Meniere's Disease. The VA is in custody of my service medical records which show repeated instances of care for my right ear hearing loss while in the military. During my military service in the early 1990's, I had periodic episodes of vertigo along with the hearing loss and tinnitus. In 1997, after the vertigo episodes had gotten so frequent and severe, I underwent exploratory right ear surgery. Initially, the attending doctor made a pre-surgical diagnosis of perilymph fistula. The pre-surgical diagnosis of perilymph fistula was negative and following the surgery I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. At the time the doctor noted to me that there was no cure for this disease and it was something that I had to live with.

In a VA decision letter received on July 28, 2009 for right ear hearing loss it was noted by the VA examiner that "It is at least likely as not that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure as a Rifleman and Infantry Unit Leader and Meniere's Disease during his military service."

At the present time my vertigo has become serious enough that it is causing me to miss a substantial amount of work. Because of this, I started seeing a new Otolaryngologist who has also diagnosed me with Meniere's disease. Please see attached doctor notes.

I request a De Novo review, a review by a Decision Review Officer at the Regional Office level.

[john999]

HVY

I would ask for a DRO Hearing not just a review.

[fanaticbooks]

HvyGns,

I wish to qualify my comments here. I am a secretary with no ties to the VA or its routine. The only experience I have had with the VA is when my hubby filed. What information I have learned is from that experience and on veteran websites.

In my opinion...

Your letter does request your DRO de novo review so that should put it into the works.

As to your paragraphs about why, again that should get your DRO review.

Do the words do anything else to prove your claim? Who knows. It all depends on what is in the C-file.

Will the VA work hard during the review? I hope so, but, again, that is leaving all the work up to the VA and they could be swamped.

I could be the wrong person to ask HvyGns. I created a website on the basis of what I did for my hubby for VA and SSD. I am a person who dots every i even when the ayes have it. lol

With the VA working so many claims, I feel that the more detail oriented a veteran does to prove points, the better off the veteran is.

fanaticbooks