Requesting a higher rating for tinnitus

Hearing, Ear Health & Tinnitus
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UPDATE - My apologies if I missed any inquiries left in the comments. If I didn’t get back to you, please send me a direct message.

The two veterans who sought increases had both submitted supplemental claims for higher evaluations on all their service-connected disabilities. One used a paid service, while the other was handling the process themselves. Fortunately, their responses during the DBQ were consistent, so their current ratings are secure—at least as far as my involvement goes.

Original Post
If you are already service-connected for tinnitus at 10%, please do not file for an increase!
I have two appointments scheduled for tomorrow for C&P hearing exams for veterans who already have the 10% maximum for tinnitus. There is no higher percentage available for this condition.

Not only does this take an appointment away from a veteran who isn’t service-connected yet, but it also puts your current tinnitus rating and any secondary conditions tied to it at unnecessary risk.

If you are paying a consultant or giving up a portion of your award to someone advising you to seek a tinnitus increase—get away from them. They are either incompetent or they are scammers.

18 Likes
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You would assume that the preliminary claim review would have caught this and stopped the exams from being scheduled in the first place.

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It’s possible they intended to file for hearing loss instead. Or maybe they just truly didn’t realize that they had already reached the maximum rating for Tinnitus.

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I’m rated at 10% for tinnitus, but my right ear hearing loss is at 0% despite being service-connected. I’m still confused how I managed to pass the hearing exam well enough to only get 0%.

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Tinnitus is honestly awful. It’s likely one of the reasons I have to take anti-anxiety meds. The constant ringing in my ear has caused me to have numerous panic attacks.

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I’m aware that 10% is the limit, and we know that here, but we often forget that we have a better understanding of the system than most other veterans. If I hadn’t learned so much from this community, I probably would have tried to get an increase on every single condition I had.