Tinnitus Denied! Ugh!

[SergeantQ]

My hubby claim was recently denied for tinnitus. The rater wrote  in her notes ' least likely to have happened in service.' 

She didn't say anything in her notes about what my husband told her about how he was airborne for many years and jumped out of airplanes. How the noise and ringing from the helicopters clearly was a contributing factor. She never mentioned buddy or statement of case he turned in. His mos was admin (71lima) but the things he did under the umbrella of the mos (air assault, air borne jumper, generator operator) seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. My husband said she was very nice to him and he really thought she liked him and that the exam was going in his favor.  He also got one of them hearing audio pillows.  I told him she played him. and the truth is this is happening more and more each day. We are vets and they are just treating us like ish! Denying us and making us jump through hoops for 10 percent but paying the next vet $100k in back pay because of the hurry-up-and-wait concept. I'm sooooo freakin mad! 

Problem I'm having now is the va reduced my husband from 70% to 60% due to a rating calculations error. So, by dropping us to 60% next year we won't qualify for the Illinois state property tax exemption. Which is why we tried to go for tinnitus and get 10%. So that means next year if we don't find a way to get back up to 70% then that's $1400 dollars added back on to our mortgage. I'm just sick with worry right now. My husband over there sleeping like a baby but I'll be up all night. These rates can really ruin your life. Now I know why vets go postal! ??

Signed, flatlined

 

[SergeantQ]

1 hour ago, Buck52 said:

NOD the decision and have your hubby to go to a private specialist ENT Dr and have them to conduct a hearing test and Maryland word discrimination test  using the VA Guidelines found here on hadit  and have your hubby to state to the Dr  he has a ringing/cricket., humming sound in his head  (this is what is described as tinnitus)  there are no test for it  so your hubby must tell the Dr about this  and have the Dr to read the medical record as to what he did in the military so the Dr can confirm its his opinion that its likely as not his noise hearing loss was caused by his prior military service,   veteran states he has not been around excess loud noise since leaving th

12 minutes ago, Navy4life said:

The rating calculation was an error so that means your husband was not entitled to that %.  That is something that happens but it basically means he wasn't entitled to that %.  Are you going to owe that money back?

"Yes there was a calculation error which I'm not disputing - no we don't have to pay it back.

 

12 minutes ago, Navy4life said:

You then tried for tinnitus after you figured out you were losing the 70%???  

Sure we did because guess what - it IS a valid condition that he has struggled with for years; however, we did not know that it was a claimable condition. We didn't know.  After we lost our 70% - we were informed by another Veteran and had a conversation with our VSO who reviewed his records and determined that it was indeed a valid concern/condition. Sure we needed to get back to 70%; however, he didn't make up the ringing in the ears, it's there and has been there for many - many years. 

 

12 minutes ago, Navy4life said:

The disability compensation is for a reason, to provide to a Veteran who has had issues while on AD and needs the help/treatment.  The compensation is secondary.

Please don't go there with me. Please. Sometimes if you don't have something positive to say - silence is golden.

 

Tinnitus is not a contention you can prove/disprove.  In order to get tinnitus, I would have your husband file an NOD immediately, request a DRO hearing, submit a SOC to address why he feels he should be awarded the % and list his duty stations and what his field of work is. It just troubles me that Veteran's try to find more issues in order to get their % up...

Wow! I am so sorry that this troubles you. It troubles ME that this troubles YOU.

 

Sorry I am not trying to be mean but that is what I am getting from your post.  I am sure you rely on that money but you have to understand it isn't permanent unless you are 100% P&T.  The Veteran is subjected to decreases/increases.  Now if he gets past 20 years, then he is good to go....

Wow! And this is the type of brain washing that goes on within our veterans community. Just because you don't understand or agree with it does not make it right. It is a misconception to think that if you don't lose a leg, or come away with PTSD from the military that there is nothing wrong with a veteran. You are doing the same thing the examiner did - discounting the veterans claim. Underestimating his condition and state of being.  Please don't do that. Please.  I am frustrated enough with having to deal with fighting this - last thing I need is for someone to log in and further add to my complete (had-it-up-to-here) frustration. I don't know you and so I don't know if you are coming from a good or bad place, but I truly hope that you are coming from a good place. Guess what I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. Something the examiner should have given my husband, coupled with his evidence. But then that's another story. Headed for coffee - now my nerves are shot!

 

 

[Navy4life]

 

I am sorry you got offended.  I am sorry you took it personal.  I was simply commenting on your post.  It is very difficult to prove tinnitus but you can get it S/C even if it is denied.  You just have to file the NOD as I stated above.  Sorry but sometimes the compensation to Veterans outweighs the benefits of the help.  I read it as such....

Every Veteran should be entitled to all the medical/compensation they deserve....That has always been my point on here. 

Edited January 28, 2016 by Navy4life

[SergeantQ]

Okay. I accept your apology and apologize as well. (Me breathing deep 1, 2, 3) It's misdirected anger on my part - you have a right to your opinion. I'm sorry - I'm just so frustrated that's all. Wanted you to be on my side that's all. Have a good day!

[raidertone]

53 minutes ago, Navy4life said:

The rating calculation was an error so that means your husband was not entitled to that %.  That is something that happens but it basically means he wasn't entitled to that %.  Are you going to owe that money back?

You then tried for tinnitus after you figured out you were losing the 70%???  

The disability compensation is for a reason, to provide to a Veteran who has had issues while on AD and needs the help/treatment.  The compensation is secondary.

Tinnitus is not a contention you can prove/disprove.  In order to get tinnitus, I would have your husband file an NOD immediately, request a DRO hearing, submit a SOC to address why he feels he should be awarded the % and list his duty stations and what his field of work is.

It just troubles me that Veteran's try to find more issues in order to get their % up...Sorry I am not trying to be mean but that is what I am getting from your post.  I am sure you rely on that money but you have to understand it isn't permanent unless you are 100% P&T.  The Veteran is subjected to decreases/increases.  Now if he gets past 20 years, then he is good to go....

Wow...you come across like a dick with this post.

[Navy4life]

Raidertone;

I didn't mean to come across that way and you don't have to use that type of language to me.  BTW I am a female so I guess you probably had another choice word for me....

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by Navy4life

[Navy4life]

11 minutes ago, SergeantQ said:

Okay. I accept your apology and apologize as well. (Me breathing deep 1, 2, 3) It's misdirected anger on my part - you have a right to your opinion. I'm sorry - I'm just so frustrated that's all. Wanted you to be on my side that's all. Have a good day!

I really didn't mean it to sound that way and I do apologize if it came across that way...

I am always on the side of a Veteran.  I am one too!

Edited January 28, 2016 by Navy4life