Hearing loss and tinnitus are typical long-term side effects of military duty. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen must all go through basic training that exposes them to the deafening effects of live ammunition. Veterans who served in the military may have also been exposed to loud explosions, ear canal wounds, or head trauma due to hard strikes to the head. All of which can lead to tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a momentary annoyance for some people that goes away with time or when another ailment is treated. Others suffer from persistent tinnitus, which can range from moderate to devastating in severity.
There is currently no solution for tinnitus, but various treatment options can help veterans manage their symptoms.
Filing a tinnitus VA claim can help military veterans get disability payments. However, knowing how to win a VA claim for tinnitus is part of the battle. Keep reading to learn more about how to prove you have tinnitus to get the benefits you deserve.
Tinnitus is a medical condition in which a person hears a sound in their ear despite the absence of external noise. The most common tinnitus symptom is ringing in the ears, although additional tinnitus symptoms include hissing, buzzing, or whistling in the ears. The volume of sound can fluctuate dramatically. Tinnitus can be a standalone symptom or a sign of another ailment.
Tinnitus is divided into two categories:
Tinnitus can also be symptomatic of other health problems. Tinnitus patients frequently suffer from depression and anxiety as a result of their distressing symptoms. According to research, tinnitus might make people more prone to sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.
Tinnitus can result from events other than live fire, many of which can occur during active duty or training. Even if they wear ear protection, military personnel who operate in artillery or tank forces might get hearing loss or tinnitus from being exposed to loud noises.
Tinnitus is a sign of head traumas, neck injuries, and muscular ear spasms that may not always originate from acute ear damage. If any of these incidents are linked to your time on active duty, you may be eligible for compensation through a tinnitus VA claim. Many veterans do not realize they have hearing loss or tinnitus until years after their departure, and VA consistently denies claims for these ailments owing to the time it takes to file a claim. In most cases, an appeal is required to win these claims.
While many veterans can benefit from the National Health Service's equipment and treatments, others require a more specialized professional approach.
If you've been medically discharged from the military, Veterans UK may automatically assess the sickness or injury that caused your medical discharge, as well as any consequences, without you having to fill out a claim form. In all other cases, you must fill out Claim Form AFCS/WPS001 and send it to Veterans UK to begin your VA tinnitus claim.
Veterans seeking VA compensation for hearing loss or tinnitus must meet two basic requirements. The first is to show that the incident that caused the hearing loss happened while they were on active service. Second, they must either acquire a doctor's diagnosis indicating hearing loss. This data should also show how the illnesses affect their lives.
Any supporting evidence you can provide, such as reports from your Medical Officer, could help expedite the process.
The tariff level for your injury will determine the amount you get. The AFCS Tariff is divided into 15 levels, ranging from 1 (the most severe) to 15 (the least severe).
There is a lump sum payment level for each tariff level. If your VA rating for tinnitus is classified as level 1–11, you'll be given Guaranteed Income Payments (GIP).
Tinnitus compensation is included in all hearing loss settlements, including blast injury to the ears and acoustic trauma.
Supplementary awards may be granted in specific situations, such as when the tympanic membrane is perforated as a result of a blast injury to the ears (torn). The amount of the supplemental award will increase the lump sum.
Veterans UK will calculate your lump payment based on the severity of your injuries and the number of body zones impacted if you have been awarded for more than one injury.
It isn't always a straightforward process to win a tinnitus VA claim. You must be able to establish a service connection to the tinnitus you are experiencing for the VA to approve your tinnitus claim. To begin, you must demonstrate documentation of a current tinnitus diagnosis (typically through a VA tinnitus test performed by an audiologist), as well as any other hearing issues you may have. This medical evidence might be from a military treatment centre or a civilian physician.
After that, you'll have to show that your active duty service caused or worsened your tinnitus. Assignment instructions, lay statements from companions or supervisors, and other service documentation demonstrating noise exposure can be used as proof.
Tinnitus is caused by a variety of factors that doctors are unable to pinpoint. A variety of factors can cause tinnitus, and some of the most prevalent include:
Tinnitus is caused by noise exposure, which is a primary cause of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is a typical complaint among military veterans who served in situations with high noise levels. Active-duty personnel are routinely trained on weapons ranges, operate heavy equipment and machinery, and undertake aircraft operations. Although most military members wear hearing protection, there is always a danger of exposure. Because of their exposure to intense noise, many veterans suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus.
Another prevalent handicap faced by veterans who have sustained a severe injury during battle, commonly caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), is traumatic brain injury (TBI) (IEDs). Hearing loss and tinnitus are frequent secondary problems in people who have suffered a TBI. Tinnitus in TBI veterans can be either transitory or persistent. Proving tinnitus VA claim will typically be secondary to proving the TBI.
Pressure changes in the middle ear are another probable cause of tinnitus. A variety of external factors can change the pressure within your ear. Swimming, diving, and flying are all activities that might induce pressure shifts. Internal issues such as circulation difficulties, sinus infections, and the common cold can also cause an increase in ear pressure.
Tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss, meaning any disease that can cause hearing loss can also cause tinnitus. Tinnitus can be caused by any head or neck injury that affects the nerves in the region.
A ringing in the ear might be caused by peripheral vestibular dysfunction, a disease that produces vertigo. Tinnitus can also be caused by Meniere's disease, an inner ear illness that is comparable to tinnitus. Ringing might be caused by a circulatory disorder that alters blood flow around the ears, in addition to inner ear abnormalities.
Finally, an audiologist will need to link the noise exposure you had during your service and the tinnitus you are experiencing now.
You may be eligible for an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award if you are deaf or suffer hearing loss due to your military service.
Veterans UK manages the AFCS on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It's distinct from any other type of personal accident insurance.
All active and retired members of the UK armed services, including reservists, are eligible to file a claim for tinnitus VA disability if it’s a result of service-related activities.
If you are eligible for an AFCS award, the amount you will receive is determined by the severity of your disability or illness and its impact on your life.
All payments are tax-free, and you do not have to pay national insurance contributions to receive them. Your claim is unaffected by your income or savings.
If your hearing loss is a direct result of your military service, you may be eligible for an AFCS award. It does not, however, have to be the result of active service or conflict. You can still make a claim if it was caused by an injury experienced during a training activity or an ear infection obtained as a result of service. You have seven years to file a claim following the occurrence that caused your hearing loss.
Your claim will be examined under the War Pensions Scheme if your hearing loss was caused by service in the armed services before 6 April 2005.
The AFCS provides two sorts of benefits:
If your claim is successful, you may be awarded a lump sum payment that is tax-free as compensation for your pain and suffering. The amount you receive is determined by the severity of your tinnitus VA rating.
The amount of a lump sum payout varies from £1,200 to £570,000. If you have several injuries due to the same occurrence, the plan will compensate you for each injury up to £570,000.
Those who have suffered the most catastrophic injuries or illnesses may be eligible for a tax-free monthly payment known as a Guaranteed Income Payment. Depending on when the claim is filed, it is paid either from the day the service terminates or from the day the claim is filed.
Our experienced audiology team will conduct an initial evaluation with you to help with your tinnitus VA claim. These tests are used to determine the kind of tinnitus you have, the tone of your tinnitus, and any accompanying hearing loss that may be making your problem worse.
We will supply you with a documented quote to submit to the Royal British Legion for approval. Make an appointment with us today to begin your treatment, find the best hearing aids for your needs, and embark on the path to improved quality of life.
