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VAC and Tinnitus

dapaterson said:
On the minus side, it's one less excuse for not hearing your wife when she wants you to do something...

Ah, but then you have to contend with the screaming voice after she's tried to get your attention three times...
 
meni0n said:
Should I initiate a claim now? I didn't know proximity to the airfield could be used as a factor. When I was deployed, I was staying in the first row of tents right next to the runway.

The decision of whether or not to initiate your claim is entirely up to you. It won't hurt since you can appeal or pursue other avenues but without a diagnosis you could be in for a headache.

As per your situation, request to see a specialist. You will need to establish a connection between your service and condition for which you are claiming. When you complete the QOL questionnaire do not be afraid to use adjectives and verbs. Also keep in mind that you should write it in a sense of how your condition affects you at it's worst, not how it is affecting you at that moment. I'm not a wiz with VAC but I believe the disability award is calculated at increments starting at 5%, 10%, 15% and so on (Service Related + QOL = Percentage).

If you need any guidance try the SMEs here or visit your local legion and speak with their advocate/liaison officer.

side track: were you at Jabber?

Cheers,


 
meni0n said:
Should I initiate a claim now? I didn't know proximity to the airfield could be used as a factor. When I was deployed, I was staying in the first row of tents right next to the runway.

My claim was denied, which I am appealing and I worked on the ramp and flew for over 20 years. It's really a crap shoot with VAC!
 
Went to see the CF specialist. He acknowledged that I have tinnitus but wasn't interested in really hearing anything I had to say. All he kept repeating is that I had no hearing loss and that I keep H1. I wasn't there to change my medical category but that's what it seemed worried him the most.
 
Did you ask for a referral to an audiologist for a tinnitus assessment, meni0n?
 
I was told that was the specialist and he did assess me having tinnitus. Is there anything else I should be doing if I was assessed having it?
 
Was this doctor an ENT?  If that's the case, then he's probably not the one to be doing a tinnitus assessment.  When I was in, the ENT at the base hospital referred me to an audiologist for a tinnitus assessment.  It's a specific battery of tests that would never normally be done as part of a normal hearing test - http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2001/11000/What_the_practitioner_should_know_about_tinnitus.9.aspx

The tinnitus assessment takes over an hour to complete, and is much more in depth than a simple audiogram.  You'd be listening to speech/sounds while noise is also being generated into your ear, and other more complicated testing.  The report generated would describe the perceived frequency and amplitude of the tinnitus, and also describe if anything aids in reducing its effect.  This is critical information if a masker or hearing aid was ever going to be prescribed.  I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling that you had an actual tinnitus assessment, from the way you're describing it.
 
Occam said:
Was this doctor an ENT?  If that's the case, then he's probably not the one to be doing a tinnitus assessment.  When I was in, the ENT at the base hospital referred me to an audiologist for a tinnitus assessment.  It's a specific battery of tests that would never normally be done as part of a normal hearing test - http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2001/11000/What_the_practitioner_should_know_about_tinnitus.9.aspx

The tinnitus assessment takes over an hour to complete, and is much more in depth than a simple audiogram.  You'd be listening to speech/sounds while noise is also being generated into your ear, and other more complicated testing.  The report generated would describe the perceived frequency and amplitude of the tinnitus, and also describe if anything aids in reducing its effect.  This is critical information if a masker or hearing aid was ever going to be prescribed.  I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling that you had an actual tinnitus assessment, from the way you're describing it.


I applied for hearing loss and tinnitus in my right ear due to the trade i'm in. While I did have some hearing loss it was on the cusp of having a award for it. I did get a 10 or 12% settlement for the tinnitus and i'm sure I never had a assessment and that was at Stad. Fast forward 5 years and my recent hearing is now is down another level to the limit for my trade and they gave me a hearing aid. Guess I should apply again for the hearing loss.
 
Mine was at Stad too - tinnitus assessment was done at Audiology Associates in 2007-ish, prescribed my hearing aid in 2008 in time for a posting to Ottawa.
 
Occam said:
Mine was at Stad too - tinnitus assessment was done at Audiology Associates in 2007-ish, prescribed my hearing aid in 2008 in time for a posting to Ottawa.

Weird, never had to go outside. It appears I never had an assessment either. Based my claim on the hearing loss and the interview I had with a doctor over the phone with VAC.
 
I was tested at Stad in 2010, was given an award for I got a small pay out in 2011.  Just recently was retested here in Ottawa, I am now on the cusp of needing a hearing aid.  Will see what comes of it all, just starting initial talks with the ENT.  I suppose I should see what I should to with VAC about the new downgraded hearing levels.
 
I don't know, but my award was for both ears as I have it in both.
 
Chief Stoker said:
can you have separate awards for each ear?

Tinnitus is awarded without regard to whether it's one ear, the other, or both.

Hearing loss is awarded by using dB loss figures from both ears to determine an overall disability rating for hearing loss.
 
Well I put in a claim about two weeks ago and it is already at stage 2 while a different claim have been sitting at stage 1 for about 3 months now. Let's see how this goes.
 
I apologize in advance if I posted this on the wrong fourm/thread. Ive done a search and surfed through numerous pages relating to this subject that hasnt been updated in a year or two.

Ive submitted a Tinnitus claim back in March, and after reading many old posts, havent seen much information on the percentage people have gotten. Or even had to send their claim back for a review.

As im waiting the more im becoming worried of having to take another number and waiting as im already on Step 2 of the whole process. I went to the MIR, got my Part 1 medical done again and have dropped down a level on my left ear. After that I saw a MO and told me I have bilateral tinnitus. From there submitted my VAC application a few weeks after of deciding if I wanted to claim it, and I did. Now, there was much stating on VAC application that really relates to tinnitus, other then the section where you fill out how else your diagnosis effects your life. Too quickly sum it up I stated that I periodically have a buzzing sound in my ears throughout the day on a regular basis, and is active every night after a few minutes of trying to sleep consistently.

The more im thinking about this and how long this process is taking I dont want recieve a letter stating bad news. Just want to wash my hands of this and be over this.

Now some of you guys maybe skeptical that im just a guy trying to play system which im not. I know of people that have and it truly disgusts me. Ive been in for over 10 years Reg Force infantry (Pro Patria) and have been deployed to Afghanistan.

Now my question is anyone who is, or has been in the same boat as I am, would this information be enough? Im at the point in which I want to request to go see a specialist off base and get a civilian professional too back this up even more. Just want this to be successful in one shot, thanks!
 
I waited 9 months to be told that my tinnitus didn't happen in the Army. Even with testing done and everything submitted. Apparently it developed during school afterwards, in the loud part of the library. Best of luck to you. There are ways to fight the outcome if it is one you don't like. I hear the legion is pretty good at helping as well.
 
The only question I could see is “ how is the tinnitus service related?” If you can prove that and you’ve had the tinnitus diagnosis longer than  six months you should get a favourable decision.
 
Well I didnt notice till it till a level 4.5 live fire range in 2010, and I got in early 2008. Which was all documented in my statement but never went to the MIR. Just thought everybody had it, then had a M203 HE detonate 50m from me. Still never went to the MIR but was only recently that its really bothering my sleep. Which is why I went to the MIR to see if there was anything I could do, which I appearently didnt know there wasnt and was informed about VAC.
 
If the MIR is noticing hearing loss, you're probably set for your claim to be approved. I had to see an ENT a few years back for an unrelated issue, and he made sure I got a proper hearing test done (probably didn't hurt his bottom line, though) so that I would have a really good baseline hearing test as opposed to the simple one in the booth that the MIR does. His thought was we are constantly exposed to loud noise in the CAF, so if there was ever a question I can refer to those test levels to prove I've got hearing problems (thankfully nothing yet). The process will be long, but you should be fine.
 
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