Tinnitus is one of the most common VA disability claims filed by veterans. In this article, we will discuss what tinnitus is and how to maximize your VA disability benefits for service-related tinnitus.
What is tinnitus?
The VA defines tinnitus as “a subjectively perceived sound in one ear, both ears, or in the head.” In other words, subjective tinnitus is when you experience a noise, such as ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or humming, in one or both ears that isn’t caused by an external sound. Because this is a sound only the patient can hear, it cannot be verified by a medical provider. Less common, objective tinnitus results in a sound others can hear. Either way, the sound caused by tinnitus can vary in volume and frequency, making it important to understand how these symptoms may qualify as a compensable VA disability.
Whether the tinnitus is subjective or objective will determine the evidence the VA requires and how the VA rates and compensates the condition.
Unfortunately, tinnitus is common, affecting about 15% to 20% of people, and sometimes related to other conditions, such as hearing loss, an ear injury, or a circulatory system problem. For veterans, tinnitus is even more common due to factors such as loud noise exposure from gunfire, machinery, and aircrafts, and the lack of hearing protection until recently.
Is your tinnitus service-related?
If you have been experiencing tinnitus since service, or if your tinnitus stemmed from something that occurred during service, then you are entitled to VA disability benefits based on your service-connected tinnitus.
The VA does not require a medical opinion to establish direct service-connection for subjective tinnitus if the following are true:
· The veteran’s service treatment records document the original complaints and/or diagnosis of tinnitus,
· there is current medical evidence of a diagnosis of tinnitus or the veteran competently and credibly reports current tinnitus, and
· the veteran claims, or other competent and credible evidence shows, continuity of a tinnitus diagnosis or symptoms since service.
The VA also offers benefits for “secondary conditions,” which are conditions related to or aggravated by direct service-connected conditions.
For example, if your hearing was injured in service, and your hearing loss caused or aggravated tinnitus, then you may be eligible for service-connected disability benefits for both: direct service connection for hearing loss and secondary service connection for tinnitus. Notably, even if your hearing loss and tinnitus are related, these are two separate conditions. So, a claim for tinnitus is not also a claim for hearing loss. You should plan to pursue these as separate, albeit sometimes related, claims, especially when navigating VA claims and appeals.
How does the VA rate tinnitus and how can you maximize these benefits?
Despite the disabling nature of tinnitus, the maximum VA rating that can be awarded for subjective tinnitus (or tinnitus causing a sound no one else can hear) is 10%. The 10% rating applies regardless of whether the tinnitus is infrequent or constant or in one ear, both ears, or in the head.
For objective tinnitus (in which the sound is audible to other people), the VA will rate it as part of the underlying condition causing it.
Either way, you can maximize your benefits for tinnitus by considering your symptoms. If any of your symptoms fall outside the standard symptoms of tinnitus, then you may file a claim for secondary service-connection for those conditions or for extra-schedular benefits. For example, if your tinnitus causes migraines and depression, then you may file separate claims for migraines and depression. As another example, if your tinnitus is so severe that it prevents you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, then you may also apply for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), which is important information for veterans navigating these claims.
How to file a claim for tinnitus?
If your tinnitus is related to service, or to another service-connected condition like hearing loss, you can file a claim for VA disability benefits in several ways: 1. File online: here.
2. File by mail Complete the VA application for disability benefits and mail it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center PO Box 4444 Janesville, WI 53547-4444 3. File in person at your local VA Regional Office
4. File by fax: If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818. If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
5. File with the help of a trained professional, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.
When filing a claim, be sure to detail the nature and impact of your tinnitus, and whether there are any secondary conditions related to your tinnitus.—
Contact us to appeal now!
Has the VA denied your claim for service-connected tinnitus and/or hearing loss? We are here to help you appeal! Contact us to reach our advocates today, or call 1 (877) 777-4021 to take the next step in obtaining the VA disability benefits you deserve.
