You may qualify for VA disability compensation if you suffer from tinnitus or ringing in the ears as a veteran. In fact, it may qualify you for a higher benefit if it is related to other auditory conditions, such as hearing loss or dizziness. In addition to VA disability benefits, veterans are also entitled to free VA healthcare.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will be responsible in providing veterans with monthly disability compensation if they suffer from tinnitus or other hearing-related conditions. However, you must establish an association between your condition and a military injury, illness, or event if you’d like to qualify for tinnitus VA disability.
In many cases, eligible veterans do not receive the proper disability rating because it is difficult to prove service connection. Appealing your denial from the Department of Veterans Affairs is just as difficult as applying for the benefits in the first place.
Who Can Get A Tinnitus VA Rating
A Tinnitus VA rating is available for veterans suffering from varying degrees of tinnitus. Most people with this illness don't have it permanently. While it is very annoying, it can also be very distracting. Aside from noise exposure, tinnitus can be caused by a number of conditions, like blockages, infections, and Meniere's disease.
Because of the quieter environment at night, tinnitus symptoms can be more apparent at that time. However, for veterans currently serving, quiet may not be something they are used to. Veterans may not even notice tinnitus symptoms until after they have served.
It is possible that tinnitus can be overcome with time and healing or therapy for a civilian who has suffered from blockage or infection. Tinnitus can lead to fatigue from lack of sleep, anxiety, irritation, and other medical issues in service members due to loud noise exposure.
Check out our article on how to find the right disability lawyer for you if you wish to file a claim and get what you deserve.
Tinnitus: Most Claimed VA Disability
A rating of more than 10% is rarely awarded for tinnitus, the most common VA disability claim. Obtaining a higher rating for tinnitus would be nearly impossible. As part of the VA's Schedule of Ratings - Ear, Diagnostic Code 6260, Tinnitus is classified as a condition under 38 CFR 4.87. Many treatments are available for tinnitus, regardless of the damage that has occurred.
The veteran should include a statement of their condition along with a connection to service-related noise exposure when applying for tinnitus disability. Affected veterans are set to benefit from new changes proposed by VA that might result in increased Tinnitus VA ratings.
The outcomes of a disability hearing are unpredictable. Check out our article on how to know if your disability hearing went well.
Tinnitus can cause secondary issues or may result from some secondary issues. Depression, traumatic brain injury or hyperacusis may be attributed to tinnitus. The severity of some of these serious disabilities often prevents veterans from working and impacts their employability. The following secondary conditions to tinnitus often result from or are somehow associated with Tinnitus:
- Hearing loss
- Traumatic brain injury
- High blood pressure
- Meniere’s Disease
- Fibromyalgia
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain
- Abnormal pressure on the middle ear due to abnormal sinus or barometric pressure
- Excessive wax in the ears, congested ears, and lost inner ear hairs
- Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism
- Lyme Disease
- Atherosclerosis
- Otosclerosis
Regardless of whether you suffer from tinnitus or another ear condition, a disability lawyer can assist you in appealing for VA disability benefits if you qualify.
How Can VA Disability Attorneys Help
Disabled veterans can receive VA benefits with the help of dedicated disability lawyers. Your appeal will be handled by a team with a long and successful track record.
VA disability lawyers well understand the components of a successful VA disability appeal. The components are as follows:
- An official diagnosis of a disabling illness – An official diagnosis is required before an attorney can start filing a lawsuit.
- Find out what happened during your military service – In order to prove your symptoms began while you were serving in the military, your lawyers must identify an event you experienced during your military service. When you are exposed to loud gun blasts repeatedly during a combat mission or training exercise, they help you prove your exposure to the VA.
- A causal connection, or nexus – The last step is to demonstrate the cause-and-effect relationship between the event and the diagnosis with the help of a medical professional.
Applying for cash benefits from Social Security can seem overwhelming for some people, but with proper assistance and information, it can go as smoothly as possible. Check out our article on what you need to know when calculating VA loan monthly payments.
