Tinnitus Eval / Hearing loss.

[Ranger519VS]

I also have 10% disability for tinnitis. They said my hearing loss wasn't bad enough for disability but they provide the hearing aids. I just recently heard I can get some disability for my high blood pressure but I haven't followed up on it yet. At least the 10% for the tinnitis pays for my supplemental medicare advantage policy. Most of the time I tune out the tinnitis but right now its screaming in my ear because I am thinking of it.

[1stindoor]

I am a big advocate for filing a claim anytime you feel you have a condition that was caused or worsened by your military service. It's only paperwork and some time. After that it's a waiting game. A "no" is rarely the final answer, sometimes you just need better documentation. I also tell people that a zero is still a rating. Because a zero can move up, whereas a ruling of "No Service Connection," is a hard stop until either additional documentation can be obtained and evaluated or an appeal is made.

[RockOn]

It’s funny; I’m watching this in the middle of the night - as my tinnitus is extremely loud right now. Being linked to depression or emotional distress honestly makes a bit of sense the more that I think about it though. I got this months ago, and it’s basically been from one source of stress to the next since then.
I don’t listen to loud music, and the only issues with my ears that I’d ever had before this were ear aches from not cleaning my ears - 8 years ago - and my ears being naturally sensitive. These days i prefer to do professional ear cleaning , which feels great. Mental stress is the only cause that really makes sense at this point, since even after 3 trips to the ENT, they’re still seeing nothing. I’m also getting an MRI soon as one final check to see if my ears are really fine, or to find the cause of the Tinnitus.

[Mr Gambler]

I have been awarded (is that the right word) a 10% disability. Apparently, no award for hearing loss. I would like to appeal the hearing loss issue... but not sure how to proceed. I already have hearing aids from the VA - wouldn't you think that is indicative of hearing loss?

I'm in one of the best V.A. hosp. in the nation . went in for tinnitus claim, ended up with complete hearing test. I was awarded 30 percent disability for tinnitus and hearing lose,$508 a month.....

[Crestliner16]

I'm reading these posts and thinking about my own tinnitus. I served onboard the USS FDR and my battle station was the five inch gun on the starboard side. We participated in a NATO exercise, Italy provided an old destroyer as target for weapons testing. We watched ships fire fifty caliber and a few twenty and maybe thirty caliber guns. We were told to stand by. The record for the number of rounds fired was posted on the hatch,seven rounds in six minutes. I was the catcher,I caught the spen8shell and threw them out of the slot in the back of the turret. We were given the the order to fire,and after the first round I stopped trying to catch them, instead I hit them into the slot! Our gun crew fired nine rounds and six direct hits, a new record. Our gun crew was awarded an E for excellence. We had previously practiced with live rounds,as that was the best way to train. It was beyond loud!
I was also onboard the USS Saratoga, that was equipped with the first version of the Seawizz, or the Phlanx. I was caught outside when during a shakedown cruise and that thing opened up for maybe a ten count. I was knocked for a loop ,and was so dizzy I went to sickbay and was scolded for not getting inside when the claxon went off. But I was given bed rest for two days because my equilibrium was so bad,I couldn't walk a straight line. My tinnitus is so bad that I went to a specialist and was told that I have scarring on both eardrums. I never thought that I would be able to have a claim with the VA. I was a Boatswainmate on the FDR working on the liberty boats filling scrapes with spackling that contained asbestos. Yet I again I never filled a claim with the VA. I worked in a steel mill with asbestos and was given an x ray by some clown in a converted ice cream truck!! I was told my test was negative.

[1stindoor]

It's never too late to file a claim. If you have any military documentation i.e. your DD214 or old med records, I would recommend seeking out a VSO.

[Crestliner16]

I'm going to have to check on this. I know that I was exposed to lead paint it was called Red Lead,it was a primer paint, then the Battleship gray ! As a lot of us exposed to unusually loud noise. Our berthing compartment was directly under the flight deck catapults.

[Offshore 1]

I applied for this and was turned down. Filed the appeal and pretty much was denied that. The ringing doesn't stop and from what I understood my job code didn't warrant me getting it. Don't get me wrong, as an Electronics Tech, most would not work in a noisy environment but the department I worked in dealt with radios for the flight deck crews, the radios that communicated with the planes on approach (aircraft carrier) which meant there was a lot of jet noise. In addition our shop was directly below the flight deck and everytime that a plane took off or landed, that was super loud. Not sure how else to go about trying to get it. Figured they are going to do whatever they can not to award that to me. I did get a hearing test but no hearing test will tell me that I DON'T have ringing in my ears.