Help!!! I'm confused about tinnitus

T

Tobias

PEB Forum Regular Member
I was a mechanic for about eight years and I'm being boarded.

I have a question about the tinnitus. When I came into the Army I guess I had exceptional hearing because when the VA tested me I was 10 decibels lower than when I came in. I have ringing in my ears at least five days out of the week and multiple times throughout the day.

The VA screener told me my hearing is now on the average/normal range now with my hearing loss and the VA will probably not rate it because I have what the VA deems normal hearing although I do have loss:confused:.

When I met with the doctor who is writing my NARSUM (after almost two months he hasn't finished and I haven't signed yet), he skimmed over it and I failed to question him more.

I am confused by this. Am I in a gray area because I had such a high level of hearing or am I being given bad information? I don't want to sign my NARSUM (whenever it is dictated) if the information I have been given is wrong.
 
tobias,
I dont know if this will help or not, but I am currently recieving 10% from the Va for tinnitus. I have a 0% rating for hearing loss though. Seems as though the tinnitus is rated alone. They ringing in the ear isnt considered hearing loss..
 
Recurrent tinnitus is rated at 10% (VASRD-4.87, Schedule of Ratings - Ear). If you have your medical records or know what your puretone thresholds are, you can look up what you should get for hearing in the VASRD.

PEB Forum's page:
http://www.pebforum.com/f61/vasrd-schedule-ratings-impairment-auditory-acuity-hearing-1098/
or the VA's page (scroll down to 4.85 and it will open a word document with the details):
38 CFR Book C, Schedule for Rating Disabilities - WARMS Library

There are instructions in there that tell you how to figure out your average which is then assigned a Roman numeral. Then cross reference the numerals for each ear and you will get the % that the VA should rate you at.

The main thing with the hearing is to prove that it is service connected. Then if it gets worse later on, they'll just reevaluate you.
 
Thank you all! Josh I'll look into this now.

By the way, is it rare for my doctor to have met with me two months ago to dictate the NARSUM and he isn't finished yet?
 
Tobias said:
By the way, is it rare for my doctor to have met with me two months ago to dictate the NARSUM and he isn't finished yet?
Click to expand...

Is there a reason the NARSUM wouldn't be complete yet? I mean, do they consider you stable for rating purposes? Have they given you hearing aids if needed? Have they done everything they can to "fix you", or are they pretty much done trying? I wasn't able to find a timeline for the NARSUM to be completed. I do recall reading somewhere that it should be done within 30 days of reaching optimum hospitalization. So if you think they have done all they can to help you then your NARSUM should be completed and you sent onto the next step. However, you need to COMMUNICATE this to your PCM. They may think that you are still looking for a solution.

Bottom line: Talk to you doctor. Tell him/her your concerns and expectations.
Worst case: If you don't feel like your PCM has your best interest at heart, request a new one.

What do you feel is your most limitating factor? The tinnitus or the hearing loss?
How does it affect you day to day? Does it limit you from doing your job?

Just to ease your mind, if it's not that bad, you may not end up getting kicked out. What outcome are you looking for?
 
Tobias said:
I was a mechanic for about eight years and I'm being boarded.

I have a question about the tinnitus. When I came into the Army I guess I had exceptional hearing because when the VA tested me I was 10 decibels lower than when I came in. I have ringing in my ears at least five days out of the week and multiple times throughout the day.

The VA screener told me my hearing is now on the average/normal range now with my hearing loss and the VA will probably not rate it because I have what the VA deems normal hearing although I do have loss:confused:.

When I met with the doctor who is writing my NARSUM (after almost two months he hasn't finished and I haven't signed yet), he skimmed over it and I failed to question him more.

I am confused by this. Am I in a gray area because I had such a high level of hearing or am I being given bad information? I don't want to sign my NARSUM (whenever it is dictated) if the information I have been given is wrong.
Click to expand...

What are you being boarded for, tinnitus? I never heard of that before.
Anyhow tinnitus is a condition is seperate from hearing. Most ratings for hearing will be 0% because most hearing can be corrected with hearing aid.
 
Jason, I am in the DES program and here is my break down:

Jan. 29 Date of Physician's Notification of MEB Action
Feb. 9 Date of initial PEBLO Counseling
July 9 Physical Exam Completed
Sept. 13 Date of MEB Physician Appointment:

I have maxed out care. I broke a bone in my leg during duty hours, I was a crazy accident. The bone never healed properly over a few years. ROM is bad and walking/standing is a task. I failed physical therapy twice. After the doctors realized they couldn't do anything and the problem was getting worse they sent me to a board (for the second time).

I also broke my wrist and I have very limited ROM in it. After a surgery and a year of physical therapy for it they gave me a profile and with the leg and wrist sent me to a MEB three years ago.

From the MEB I was sent to a MMRB and they allowed me to stay in and re-class (I really wanted to and I went with letters from my command team and supervisors).

I had a very limited profile and I had to start physical therapy again. I failed and my problems are worse therefore after the last failure I was recommended to a MEB again. (time line is above)

I contacted my PEBLO and was told that they can take months (NASRUM Dictation).

I read DoD Policy Memorandum Implementing 2008 NDAA-1 and it says the max should be 70 days from meeting with the doctor until the final decision is made. Although, it does not say it is set in stone. From what I understand that is a recommendation that should be followed and they had a statement syaing they want at least 80% done in that time. I guess I'm the 20%.

I also called the doctor about three weeks after he started my NARSUM to ask him a question and he said he wasn't finished my dictation yet. He was able to change something because he wasn't done.

But there are others who have been finished within a week and within three weeks of meeting with the doctor their packets have been sent to the PEB.

Also, *Josh and Xeno* I'm not getting boarded for the tinnitus. I was asking a question about it and the hearing. My hearing has significantly declined but, it's classified as normal now. I was told because my hearing loss wasn't that significant then they may not do anything for the tinnitus (although I've read the info Jason posted and saw that isn't true).

My biggest concern with that is that I didn't look into it or ask anyone. I excepted what they told me. I guess it's a good thing I haven't signed my NARSUM yet, I know I have to make sure everything is listed and listed correctly before I sign anything. You all on the forum are a great help.:o
 
Alright that makes more sense now. Just stay on him about getting it done, without crossing the line and annoying him.

As for the NDAA saying the max should be 70 days. Like most regs, the word "should" is thrown around too much and people just see it as a suggestion. My Chief told us how he reads the word should vs. will/shall in a reg: "If your boss comes up to you and says, 'you should get a haircut' don't you think he expects you to get one? Should just gives you a way out because it doesn't always fit the situation."

Anyways, hope everything goes smoothly for you once the NARSUM is completed.
 
Tobias,

Just to let you know, when I went through the pilot program I too had tinnitis and noted hearing loss. It's obvious the DOD won't find those conditions unfitting, but the VA rated my tinnitus at %10 and the hearing loss as service connected at %0. If you have tinnitus, they can't prove whether you have ringing in your ears or not, so I would assume they (VA) will rate you at %10 for it.
 
Marine,

Should you be rated 0% according to the VASRD or is that just what they decided? I'm trying to get a fair understanding of how they consider it. Running my own numbers through the tables in the VARSD I would be rated at 50%.

*Although, due to my condition (it causes hearing loss) I wouldn't be rated for it separately since it's included in the VA code. I was just curious what I would be rated at with my hearing loss alone.
 
Josh and Marine,

Thank you. Whenever I sign my NARSUM, I'll post the information form the doctor and keep my time line updated.

Thanks again and Josh I hope they give you what you deserve.
 
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