Insomnia secondary to Tinnitus, Hypertension secondary to Tinnitus

[Matt Birchfield 1]

Afternoon all.

 

I have been doing some research into Tinnitus and claiming secondary for Insomnia and Hypertension. I have a 10% for Tinnitus and 0% for hearing loss (submarine sonar tech), but honestly the lack of sleep is beating me down. I have not gotten a full night in several years. I usually get 5-6 hrs a night, with multiple interruptions due to what I feel is my ears ringing. 

I did a search on the forum here for tinnitus and Insomnia but the last post was from 2012, hence the new thread.

I was able to find 3 cases where the VA ruled in favor of the member for secondary insomnia and secondary hypertension, Case numbers: 1207104, 1522463, and 1600946. The last case was for insomnia only. I also have a study that is an Examination of the relationship between Insomnia and Tinnitus, DOI: 10.1177/1179557318781078

My question is how do I get this all linked together? I plan on going to my primary care and taking this evidence to him (He's a retired commander) and see what his thoughts are, but I was also referred to you guys as the knowledgeable peeps. 

 

Thanks

 

Matt

[pacmanx1 1,514]

Not sure how you are thinking but a claim for insomnia would be rated as a claim for a mental health disorder. Depression, Mood, Anxiety or even PTSD but insomnia cannot be rated by itself.  If I am wrong others will chime in.  Basically, you can file any claim secondary to a service-connected condition but to win those claim you will need a medical opinion with a good medical rationale how they are related.

[Matt Birchfield 1]

I basically don't know where to start I guess. Do I go to my primary and tell him I think I have insomnia and go from there? Do I file a claim and say its secondary to the tinnitus and then reference the study and the other cases? I'm just not sure how to proceed.

 

[pacmanx1 1,514]

It would probably be best to have your PCP (Primary Care Provider) refer you to the mental health clinic for an evaluation.  If you are having problems sleeping (INSOMNIA) you can get it diagnosed and treated through the Mental Health Clinic. You can also discuss any other conditions you have and ask their opinion of any other clinic you should/could be referred to. Keep in mind that this process starts a paper trail of your condition and you will need that once you file your claims.

[Al329 16]

 

Hi,

Secondary to tinnitus has been done recently ...

https://community.hadit.com/topic/74958-mental-health-secondary-to-tinnitus/?

https://community.hadit.com/topic/75767-supplemental-claim-granted/#comment-472060

 

Lack of sleep can cause all sorts of secondary issues.

You have to get a diagnosis and then a write up on connecting that to tinnitus.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Matt Birchfield 1]

So, I have one last fairly important question irt to seeing a Mental Health Pro. Will it affect my clearance and would I still be able to purchase a gun?

[GBArmy 1,445]

Matt MH disabilities, PTSD in particular, are on veterans' radar, as they think that the government is going to take their guns away. No. My understanding is that the only way that could happen is if you were to threaten to hurt yourself or someone else. They do ask questions on ownership, how & where do you store them and accessibility, etc. But if you are not likely to show that lyou have bad intenyions, you'll be ok. As to your clearance, there are HIPA laws and you are protected. If you don't say anything, how would it come up?

[pacmanx1 1,514]

The only time the subject of gun ownership would come up is if you are found to be incompetent to take care of yourself. Of course, the subject of harming yourself and or others would trigger concerns but that is after you were declared unfit. Not knowing how severe your condition is, it would be pure speculation as to how it would develop.  

[flow1972 72]

Gun laws are State/Local-specific.  In my State, No.  I've never had an issue, and I have a CCP.  It all depends on whether you're regarded as a "threat" to yourself or someone else.  As for connecting your Insomnia to your Tinnitus as with anything really....you don't need a Dr. to specifically spell out the connection from one to the other in your own personal records for every secondary condition.  I never did.  A lot of secondary conditions are "know" or "commonly accepted" as caused by (enter condition).  You DO need a diagnosis for the secondary though.  Get that and submit any studies or documented medical papers that link the two medically as well as any previous decisions where the VA granted if you feel like it's something not commonly connected.  That should be enough to file.

[1454th Solider 9]

You should go see a PHD mental Health doctor tell him your symptoms and how your Tinnitus keeps you up all night. Your lack of sleep has to cause a depressive mood and anxiety, trust me my anxiety is terrifying and I know your tinnitus is preventing you from falling asleep and staying asleep if it is bad as mine. I was able to service connect anxiety and major depression disorder secondary to my 10% Tinnitus at 70%, so it can be done you just have to get an opinion from a Independent physiatrist and be very honest (don’t hold back) during your C&P exam.

[Matt Birchfield 1]

@1454th Solider

Im not sure if I'm depressed, but I do have several anxiety issues that I have keyed into. I was working an installation onboard one of the submarines this past summer and had several small panic attacks that I had to work through. I left that job after 13 years due to overload and stress. I still have several small panic attacks in my current job, but nothing quite as bad.

My tinnitus is ever present, there's never a time I dont hear it. Thanks for putting yourselves out there to everyone who answered.

[Matt Birchfield 1]

18 hours ago, GBArmy said:

Matt MH disabilities, PTSD in particular, are on veterans' radar, as they think that the government is going to take their guns away. No. My understanding is that the only way that could happen is if you were to threaten to hurt yourself or someone else. They do ask questions on ownership, how & where do you store them and accessibility, etc. But if you are not likely to show that lyou have bad intenyions, you'll be ok. As to your clearance, there are HIPA laws and you are protected. If you don't say anything, how would it come up?

Its actually a question on the SF-86 form, so it would come up. I'm getting in touch with my JPAS and Clearance guy to get his input. Agreed, for CCP as long as I am determined to not be a hazard I should be fine, however we all know that hope is not a plan. LOL I want to make sure I go down this path with my eyes wide open to any potential fall out.

[pacmanx1 1,514]

Each state is different and this may be outdated but you can look it up from here. Keep in mind that you can be granted a mental health condition/disability and not be considered incompetent. 

North Carolina

N.C. Gen Stat. § 14-404. A permit to purchase a handgun may not be issued to: One who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent or has been committed to any mental institution.

 

Possession of Firearms by People With Mental Illness (ncsl.org)

[Dustoff 11 269]

Even though you may meet the criterial and qualifications for a VA service connection disability you may not be able to receive an important formal doctors nexus opinion or DBQ stating your disability is due to your service or another service connected condition because some doctors and their staffs are lazy, indifferent or hostile to vets receiving VA money.

Here is what has worked for me since 1987 to present day.  I have submitted copies of VA, Army, private medical records and other evidence with my numerous claims and appeals with almost 100 percent success and won those claims/appeals without a doctors nexus statement with only one recent exception where the paid for opinion was also successful.  I have been 100% P&T since 98 and now also with SMC-S.  

IF you contact me I can send you a detailed list of the medical and other evidence that has won my claims and appeals.  What has worked for me is no guarantee it will work for you.

It is a disservice IMHO for anyone to discourage a vet from filing a disability claim just because they cannot get some chicken*** doctor to fill out a DBQ or sign a nexus statement as the vet may still have the other medical and non medical evidence in their files or possession to win. 

I encourage vets to seek opinions of others and do their own research as I have done.

Some vets like to brag about their receiving a VA or private doctors nexus opinion free of charge or it was paid for by their insurance or others and I congratulate them on their good fortune.  I have learned and worked the hard way for my benefits and proud of it.

I learned many years ago to in my case to correctly assume the VARO will deny my claim with a BS statement like "NO EVIDENCE" and then I have to appeal to the BVA or higher U.S. CAVC court which I have done on my own successfully.  This has created jealously on part of some other vets.  Too Bad they can still get happy.

My comment is not legal advice as I am not a lawyer, paralegal or VSO representative.