![]() ![]() ![]() This will also result in lower overall ratings for veterans, too, because VA will no longer grant a standalone rating for tinnitus. When the claim is made some time later, VA can easily deny the claim by blaming noise exposures outside the military as the cause, such as lawnmowers or concerts. Many veterans do not think to make claims for hearing loss right when they leave service because they do not notice the impact that the hearing loss has on their lives yet. This is problematic, however, because it is traditionally very difficult for veterans to prove hearing loss was caused by service, particularly when a veteran waits several years after leaving service to file a claim with VA. Then, they will have to prove they also have tinnitus and that the two are related. First, they will need to prove they have an underlying condition caused by service, such as hearing loss. ![]() The practical effect of this is that it will be hard for veterans to prove their claims for tinnitus because it will be a two-step process. VA's explained this interpretation will “restore the medically-supported relationship between tinnitus and an underlying pathology, consistent with current medical practice.” Consequently, VA proposes to evaluate tinnitus only as part of its underlying pathology and to delete the stand alone diagnostic code for tinnitus entirely. “It is a symptom associated with an underlying condition, such as hearing loss, Meniere's disease, traumatic brain injury and cerebral atherosclerosis, not an independent disease.” In its statement in the Federal Register announcing the rule change, VA stated tinnitus is not a stand-alone disability. VA wants to change that to only grant a claim for tinnitus when it is related to another service-connected disability such as hearing loss or traumatic brain injury. ![]()
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