tinnitus Question About Tinnitus.

[jesusplay]

I'm still active duty with a discharge date coming up in the near future. To get my tinnitus documented in my records do I just need to make an appointment with my PCM about it? I plan to file it as a secondary to mental disorder.

I have tinnitus and I also have migraines due to my mental disorder. I'm not sure if I can make tinnitus my secondary if i have migraines as my secondary. can I have 2 secondaries?

I've told mental health about the ringing ears and migraines. How do I make sure this stuff has been documented? Do I need to tell my PCM?

Edited March 26, 2013 by jesusplay

[JT24usn]

So you had a hearing problem in left ear before service? Is so you may have to prove aggravation. But like they said, tinnitus, when asked, " its been going in since service"

[MILPOL4523]

I've scored an 82 on the rating test for how bilaterial tinnitus effects my daily and pre sleep hours (when I can get to sleep)

Awaiting my medical release date (9 months ago I was to have been cut from the herd) for a shoulder injury my unit refused to admit existed between 2007 and 2010 when it was partially corrected.

During that time I was systematically harassed face to face by senior officials, belittled in from t of my troops and threatened with charges for not carying out duties at my current rank.

when it takes the left hand to raise the right hand so as to salute senior ranking officials to receive medals ....

As an MP who between 1995 and current date has been in direct line of sirens, radio squelch, firing ranges, exercises and life fire, i also worked p/t as a deputy Security Officer for Hel Sqn exposed to jet engine noise while on shift.

I have hearing loss in my right ear and bi laterial tinnitus I'm assuming 24/7 since I cannot confirm what I hear during the 2 to 3 hours of sleep I am able to get a night.

My problem is not the 10% max for one or both ears.

My problem is how do I state the training and service background to support the veterans claim. Live fire, radios, sirens, pyro explosions during training etc.

I always thought the ringing was a normal thing until I couldnt hear various frequencies externally to the buzzing ringing high pitch noise I hear during my waking hours.

Both the hearing loss and bi laterial tinnitus are documentated for well over 2 years to exist both in Military medical records as well as Civilian Audiology testing.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated from those who have walked this road and these miles before.

Of the Troops for the Troops

[Capt.]

Hello.... Remember you were taken in service fit for duty. It does not matter if you were totally deaf. YOU WERE FIT FOR DUTY. So they not look at it when you went in and did not look at it UNTIL you were in. Make sure that you get that record while in of your hearing test of both ears.

As others have pointed out your MOS...military occupational specialty should be able to bring the Nexus forward. Any occupation involving explosive devices, infantry, artillery , EOD will be sought for. Also any MOS with Corps of Engineers, Post Engineers, Equipment Maintenance, Heavy Equipment Operator, Mechanized armor would be fine. Also if you doing training in sub0 temperatures will also. This needs to be backed up by evidence , a couple of buddy statements , any duty reports for that.

It is EVIDENCE that wins, It is sound Medical Opinions (IMO) coupled with event or history of injury. It may also require INSERVICE reports and records of treatment or test. Which you have.

I would also bring up that the VA normally can only award the Maximum of 10 percent for Tinnitus however they will also list hearing loss at 0%. Meaning service connection is granted at 0 percent. Most of our SC members have that including me.

However the VA will give a higher percentage for hearing loss if you can establish that thru an appeal of the original decision. You will also need an IMO stating the reasons for the hearing loss with evidence you can give to prove that. Including a hearing test report.

Medical rational, and your inservice medical records and test with date of injury or date of service can increase the hearing loss of 0 percent to say another 10 percent.

The main key here is to remember that you reported fit for duty when you went in. This is a favorite trick that they pull on Veterans and can be quickly brought down during the appeals process.

Please remember that when dealing with the VA it is essential that a Veteran ,,,,,,,..........................NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless. C.C.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Capt.Contaminate

[boomer2]

According to the MOS list for noise exposure an MP has a moderate chance of being exposed to loud noise. You need to make sure that you have your tinnitus documented before you get out. I don't think claiming it as secondary is going to work. As has been said in other responses it is a stand alone disease. You also need to make sure you have a good hearing test also, since you had some hearing loss before you entered the service. When you file your claim you can claim that the tinnitus made your already existing hearing loss worse. JMHO

[MILPOL4523]

Thanks gentlemen and the fact that I had a Cat 1 for hearing upon entry for service is something I did not consider in my arguement

A couple of questions though...

sub0 temp service?

Is there a coorleation between sub 0 temps and hearing loss or tinnitus.

In the past 17 years I have attended several dozen field exercises below 0 in operational temps, as well as while on base patrols for 5 years can be pointed in the direction of data that would be a huge plus.

In my phase 1 of medical tests for my release due to not being able to meet universality of soldering I scored a level 3 hearing in my right ear along with tinnitus in both.

I was instructed to carry those documents to the Medical staff for phase 2 of my testing.

I photographed those documents as a good MPwould Veterans Affiars are to reveive those documents in direct question regarding the part 2 medical recording a level 2 which is a hearing gain.

I have also undergone a year ago a civilian audiologist exam at a local hospital which shows level 3 hearing and bilateral tinnitus.

Would it be benificial to try and locate acoustic trama evidence in the way of studies involving military equipment, sirens, M16, light and heavy machine gun, jet engine thresholds

Is this something this site would readily have?

I already have supportive studies of Military Police and hearing loss tinnitus around the world as well as NYPD issues with officers being released from duty for hearing loss as a result of traffic, horns, sirens, radio headsets, squelch, K9 barking life fire ranges.

I jsut need to button this up as tight as possible.

My unit Captain always came to me for charge report writing and research because I was pretty much the only person who knew where to research the information.

Now I'm the one stumped.

[Capt.]

Hello,,,, Yes sub 0 temperatures can cook your eardrums ,,,,frostbite or ear infections or directly injure and cause HEARING LOSS and can be medically linked.

http://phb.secondsensehearing.com/content/warning-cold-weather-can-cause-hearing-loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117786/

I do want to say that I suffered a major ear infection from Fort Greely and it required "Force Drainage" and I will never forget how much that hurt. 2 days in a row,,,,,it was painful and I will tell you that I do have tinnitus SC and Hearing loss at 0% but am probably going to file for the increase on that ,,,,but I don't really want to major on the minors ,,,cause I got more important pressing medical problems. However making sure we Veterans have all of our records and claims current and filed is very important.

Hope this can help. Remember to be patient and NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Capt.Contaminate