I have a rating for a strange ear disease that is 0% and am wondering if I can get an increase in the future. Does getting SC for a disease open up other treatment possibilities?

[kent101]

I have a rating for a strange ear disease that is 0% and won't go up without an increase in hearing loss. Is temporary hearing loss enough to get an increase?  Its called "autophony." where I hear my own voice very loud and can hardly hear anything outside of my own head. Is this temporary hearing impairment enough to get an increase in rating from 0% or does the hearing test have to show the hearing loss? They rated this disease analogous to perforated ear drum.

Does getting rated with a disease open up any type of special treatments you can get for the disease? Such as going to a specialist out side of the VA since only a few specialist in the world try to operate on this type of disease?

[Berta]

This veteran  apparently got relief from his  autophony- due to (I assume) a VA medical procedure:

In part:

"Furthermore, the Veteran's other ear related problems - congestion, pressure, and autophony- are related to his Eustachian tube disorder, which is currently not service-connected. Although the Veteran has stated that he is unable to wear hearing aids in conjunction with the tympanostomy tubes, when the tubes function properly, the Veteran is able to hear. 8/22/2017, Hearing Transcript, at p. 3, 10. The medical evidence shows that he reported that his hearing and ear pressure improved, and his autophony resolved, after an ear procedure was performed in May 2017. See 8/22/2017, Medical Treatment Records, at p. 50."

(The decision indicates the relation of the autophony and to the other ear related problems, was not a SC disability. I could not find a single rating of autophony at the BVA decision site. Apparently this is a temporary and treatable condition, and often involves other hearing problems.)

 

 

https://www.va.gov/vetapp18/files2/1806898.txt

 

[pacmanx1]

My apologies if I understand this post incorrectly.

8 hours ago, kent101 said:

I have a rating for a strange ear disease that is 0% and won't go up without an increase in hearing loss. Is temporary hearing loss enough to get an increase?  Its called "autophony." where I hear my own voice very loud and can hardly hear anything outside of my own head. Is this temporary hearing impairment enough to get an increase in rating from 0% or does the hearing test have to show the hearing loss? They rated this disease analogous to perforated ear drum.

Does getting rated with a disease open up any type of special treatments you can get for the disease?

As for an increase in rating, not likely unless that you can prove by medical evidence and opinion that your increase is either chronic and or permanent. As for treatment, it really does not matter; treatment and or special treatment would come from a referral of a specific treatment and or procedure due to medical opinion and a medical rationale of why it would be necessary.  Since the veteran is rated at 50% and above, his treating doctor can give an opinion and a medical rationale, then it would be up to the VAMC fee basis to determine if the treatment and or special treatment would be requested/ordered.  Normally, when a veteran is rated above 50%, most of his/her treatment depends upon a referral by his/her treating physician. 

[broncovet]

Go for it!  Apply for the increase, as I will explain:

 While I agree with Berta and Pacman, if you read most of the criteria, you can see that many disorders "wax and wane".  For example, PTSD.  You may well have a good day, or MANY good days with PTSD, but, when you go for your C and P exam, you tell the doc how you are "on your worst day" not on your best day.  

This is widely accepted by the VA.  If you are rated for depression or PTSD, we dont have to "prove" we are depressed "every day".  

Ditto for Migraines, and most other disorders.  This is one reason there are "temporary" ratings...they hypothesis is it may improve over time.  

 

I think you hit the nail on the head with your 

Quote

analogous

Ratings.  The rating specialist may well have used the wrong disorder to "compare" it to.  While Im not a medical expert, I think a "perforated eardrum" is a poor anology to the condition you described.  It may be closer to Meniere's disease!   REad this:

https://www.audiology.org/news/differentiating-meniere’s-disease

Meniere's disease, if this analogous rating is used, could mean a very significant increase in compensation.  You may, however, need an IMO/IME to get it.  

Now, if this is something like a "ankle sprain" that resolves itself and no longer causes a problem, well you wont get compensation for that.  

But, again, "migraines" are temporary, but they are rated on your number of episodes, so you can get a permanent rating on migraines.