<X> hearing loss and/or tinnitus (audiologist, performing current exam)
1. Objective findings:
1. Puretone thresholds in decibels (air conduction):
RIGHT EAR LEFT EAR
500 10 5
1000 10 5
2000 10 10
3000 15 20
4000 20 25
6000 20 15
8000 10 15
Average 14 15
c. Validity of puretone test results
<X> Test results are valid for rating purposes.
2. Diagnosis
Right Ear
<X> Normal Hearing
Left Ear
<X> Normal Hearing
3. Evidence Review
<X> No records were reviewed
6. Remarks, if any
Claims folder not available for review at the time of evaluation. Hearing is within normal limits for both ears. Veteran reported dates of active duty from 1989 to 1997. He reported military noise exposure to artillery and equipment. No occupational or recreational noise exposure was reported.
SECTION 2 TINNITUS
1. Medical History
Does the Veteran report recurrent tinnitus? YES
Date and cicumstances of onset of tinnitus: Veteran reports tinnitus in the right ear only "for as long as I can remember, from Desert Storm."
2. Evidence Review:
<X> No records were reviewed
3. Etiology of tinnitus
<X> Cannot provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus without resorting to speculation.
Reason: Claims folder was not available for review, however hearing thresholds are within normal limits for both ears which would indicate tinnitus is not caused by military acoustic trauma.
5. Remarks, if any:
Veteran reported he had several ear invections while in the military when he was younger and is unsure if tinnitus is because of that. Veteran also reported he has had traumatic brain injury.
08/27/212 ADDENDUM
Claims folder has been received by Audiology clinic and reviewed.
Veteran currently has hearing within normal limits for both ears. Audiograms found in service medical records from enlistment in 1988 and others from 1994 and 1996 show hearing within normal limits for both ears with no standard threshold shift.
Veteran reports history of several ear infections while in the military when he was younger. Reports of otitis media and otitis externa were found in service medical records. Veteran reported during the audiological evaluation that he was unsure if tinnitus was due to that. Veteran also has history of traumatic brain injury.
An opinion is requested regarding tinnitus according to the 2507. After review of service medical records, personal interview and audiometric testing, it is the opiniion of this examiner that veteran's tinnitus is less likely as not a result of noise exposure during military service as veteran has hearing within normal limits now and during service. No complaints of tinnitus were found in service medical records. opinions regarding other possible causes for tinnitus, including history of: Otitis media, otitis externa, and traumatic brain injury, should be deferred to the appropriate medical specialty.
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.
They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.
This is not true,
Proof:
About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because when they cant work, they can not keep their home. I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason: "Its been too long since military service". This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA. And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time, mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends.
Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly. The VA is broken.
A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals. I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision. All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did.
I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt". Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day? Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.
However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.
When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait! Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?" Not once. Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.
However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.
That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot. There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.
Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.
Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:
NOTE: TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY. This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond. If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much.
Question
mekon1971
NO C-FILE
<X> hearing loss and/or tinnitus (audiologist, performing current exam)
1. Objective findings:
1. Puretone thresholds in decibels (air conduction):
RIGHT EAR LEFT EAR
500 10 5
1000 10 5
2000 10 10
3000 15 20
4000 20 25
6000 20 15
8000 10 15
Average 14 15
c. Validity of puretone test results
<X> Test results are valid for rating purposes.
2. Diagnosis
Right Ear
<X> Normal Hearing
Left Ear
<X> Normal Hearing
3. Evidence Review
<X> No records were reviewed
6. Remarks, if any
Claims folder not available for review at the time of evaluation. Hearing is within normal limits for both ears. Veteran reported dates of active duty from 1989 to 1997. He reported military noise exposure to artillery and equipment. No occupational or recreational noise exposure was reported.
SECTION 2 TINNITUS
1. Medical History
Does the Veteran report recurrent tinnitus? YES
Date and cicumstances of onset of tinnitus: Veteran reports tinnitus in the right ear only "for as long as I can remember, from Desert Storm."
2. Evidence Review:
<X> No records were reviewed
3. Etiology of tinnitus
<X> Cannot provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus without resorting to speculation.
Reason: Claims folder was not available for review, however hearing thresholds are within normal limits for both ears which would indicate tinnitus is not caused by military acoustic trauma.
5. Remarks, if any:
Veteran reported he had several ear invections while in the military when he was younger and is unsure if tinnitus is because of that. Veteran also reported he has had traumatic brain injury.
08/27/212 ADDENDUM
Claims folder has been received by Audiology clinic and reviewed.
Veteran currently has hearing within normal limits for both ears. Audiograms found in service medical records from enlistment in 1988 and others from 1994 and 1996 show hearing within normal limits for both ears with no standard threshold shift.
Veteran reports history of several ear infections while in the military when he was younger. Reports of otitis media and otitis externa were found in service medical records. Veteran reported during the audiological evaluation that he was unsure if tinnitus was due to that. Veteran also has history of traumatic brain injury.
An opinion is requested regarding tinnitus according to the 2507. After review of service medical records, personal interview and audiometric testing, it is the opiniion of this examiner that veteran's tinnitus is less likely as not a result of noise exposure during military service as veteran has hearing within normal limits now and during service. No complaints of tinnitus were found in service medical records. opinions regarding other possible causes for tinnitus, including history of: Otitis media, otitis externa, and traumatic brain injury, should be deferred to the appropriate medical specialty.
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