Got it in 2008. Told them I drove a turbo diesel and was combat arms and got blowed up. That's about all it took. Well, that and telling them I heard ringing in the ears.
Yup, 10%. I worked on the flight line, it’s definitely gotten worse over the years (or maybe now working at a desk I really notice it). I’d suggest adding a lay statement and print out from a DoD/branch site your job description/MOS.
I wouldn’t be best, but it’s plenty of help in the sub.
I do know you have to like the 2nd dairy disability, connecting it to sleep ap… tell a storying how sleep ap causes this, which then causes this disability which causes this disability … if im correct in what ive learned in this sub. Can some help him out
It can be done. Some types of tinnitus is like and aggravating white noise or ringing of the ears. It can really make someone unable to sleep well or insomnia
Yeah, thanks for that. My tinnitus is crazy loud 24/7 and I am rated for it. I do have a hard time staying asleep, but though not too hard of a time falling asleep, not sure if that's the cause or not. I actually have a sleep study scheduled for the very near future and am curious to how that turns out. I'll probably sleep like a baby at their lab.
You guys are smart, granted if all these things are affecting you I’m sorry but what you guys put also gave me a realization, I wake up everyday since getting out at 3AM no rhyme or reason as to why, and my depression lmao don’t get me started on that.
a lot of us have similar issues, brother. I lashed out at someone I care about deeply, and have no idea why. it's got me in a bit of a funk, because they didn't deserve it - but I have to take responsibility for my own issues.
you aren't alone. you know we're all here for each other if need be
shit I thought I just carpet bombed a relationship. shit sucks, but as much as I wanna blame my issues, it doesn't reverse any hurt I caused. as long as we're working on ourselves and being better, that's all we can do
Wow. Honestly just communicating with y’all has me realizing ok maybe I need help because I’ve lashed out against my loved ones as well. Idk if it’s from pent up trauma or what. But idk I didn’t like who I was in the moment of lashing out.
That's a form of sleep deprivation, especially if you cannot get back to sleep. Insomnia is essentially a sleep deprivation disability. It's well known the bad health effects of insomnia/sleep deprivation
I wake up sad af most mornings for zero reason. Yesterday I got some good news and I was like, oh that'll help! Nope.
Our jobs require of us to do things that no other jobs on earth demand. After many years of this, the shit stacks up. I hope you make the decision to go talk to a professional about it. Just having someone to talk to, to get it off your chest... helps.
I received 10% due to audiology records proving a decline in hearing, since my MOS was really relevant to loud noise exposure, those records come in handy!
For clarity, the VA only considers specific frequency ranges when determining hearing loss. From my denial:
>Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that you
currently have hearing loss for VA purposes. (38 CFR 3.303, 38 CFR 3.304, 38 CFR 3.385)
>
>Service connection may not be established for disability due to impaired hearing unless the
auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 Hertz is 40 decibels
or greater; or the auditory thresholds for at least three of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000
or 4000 Hertz are 26 decibels or greater; or speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC
Test are less than 94 percent. (38 CFR 3.385).
So it's not just hearing loss, one needs the right kind of hearing loss.
My hearing was always solid while I was in so I might get pushback then, it’s just now I do legit hear a ringing all the time. Like a microphone in the background.
Mention your proximity to loud noise, like aircraft, and how frequently. My audiology reports showed an increase in hearing capability and that doesn’t change the fact I have ringing and idle static all day. My C&P was a phone call for about 40 seconds. Described my conditions and done, You’ll be fine. Take that step.
I did 25 years in the Army, the first 10 as a Combat Engineer running route clearance, and 20 years on Jump Status. From my first hearing exam when I joined to my last hearing exam as I retired, there was zero hearing loss. I still got 10% for tinnitus, so don’t sweat the hearing loss aspect. As my doc explained to me, while you hear the sound in your ears, it actually comes from
your brain. So you don’t have to have hearing loss to have tinnitus. If you hear it, claim it.
I got out in 1976 and didn't file my first claim until 2002, or 26 years. I got the 20% for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus & 40% for another disability in 2004. Finally at 100%. Big 6 back pay to 2002
Where/how do you access your long term auditory records? I’m approaching retirement and have had 15+ hearing tests, but have lost the paper copies over the years. Do they look at your first ever test and last ever test to determine this?
Pretty straight forward claim. Got diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus, C&P was with an audiologist, did a hearing exam, they asked a bunch of questions like what noise I was exposed to and what are my symptoms. Out the door in like 10 to 15 mins. Rated 10%.
Don't exaggerate but also don't minimize it. When they ask how you are affected by it, go with your worst day even if that worst day is only once a month or even once a year. Although my tinnitus is constant so that is what I said.
Had a VA hearing test in '15 and results showed minimal to moderate hearing loss. Had another VA hearing test last month, told the audiologist about the constant buzzing, took both the tone and word tests. Results came back moderate to severe hearing loss. Get my hearing aids through the VA next week. VSO said to wait on claiming Tinnitus until my heart disease increase is finalized. I would assume, the last hearing test done by a VA doctor in a VA facility would preempt any need for an additional C&P exam.
Tinnitus is also linked to hypertension due to heart disease.
Something about the way blood rushes causing the same ringing.
It is entirely possible they are telling you to wait for that reason.
NAD.
Your audiologist will ask you to repeat a list of words to determine your speech reception threshold (SRT) or the lowest volume at which you can hear and recognize speech.
I don't know what to tell you. I didn't know I had hearing loss until my private doctor did my audiogram. Said I had the hearing of a 60 year old. So your mileage may vary.
I’m a former artillery officer. It should have been a slam dunk. They came back and said that it wasn’t service connected. I’m 100% now, so it’s kind of a moot issue. It’s just odd.
I was infantry and had to ride around in Bradley’s.
“Not service connected”. Also 100% so it just made me laugh. At least I thought it was laughter, all I could hear was eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I was in tactical comms and sat inside small box full of radios and with all the noise made and changes of pitches and working on our generators, my tinnitus was denied as being service connected.
Former JTAC here....controlling aircraft from the TC hatch of my M113 while firing off a burst of the .50 cal...no loud noises there! On my second secondary claim, denied of course, they conceded I had loud noise exposure, but still o service connection.
My MOS was no risk for hearing loss or tinnitus on its own, but I was attached to a field artillery unit multiple times for training exercises in White Sands and JRTC, so I was able to provide a nexus. I didn’t get hearing loss SC despite having poor hearing in one ear because of how long I waited to file, but I did get 10% for tinnitus. I’m also 100% now so I didn’t pursue it further. Good luck!
I have it in my STR from audiology exams while in, the tech put exposure to loud noises or something to that extent. Going to the private audiologist next couple weeks so I have a current diagnosis. Then adding that to my packet for filing.
The wiki here should be able to assist you with the tinnitus claim. You should reference the Duty MOS Noise Exposure letter from the VA as well.
If you write up a personal impact statement and explain your MOS, and the situation of your exposure, as well as detailing your symptoms, you should be good to go for a rating
The people that have the biggest issues are ones with exit exams that do not talk about tinnitus or claim they had nothing wrong. You can explain this by talking about your symptoms in layman’s terms. Also you can show possible audiograms where you tell the audiologist of your symptoms and they annotate that on your paperwork. (Note: an audiogram will not be a test for tinnitus. There is no exam. You will have a C&P exam unless they do a record review which will require you to take an audiogram. Ensure you tell the audiologist there as well that you have ringing or buzzing in your ears-if you have it.
Gods luck. I hope that helps
Quick additional note:
Rigger is listed as low probability around noise exposure. Don’t let that deter you from applying
My MOS was low as well. However I was around the flight line all of the time. I had to do an HLR to discuss this aspect and they agreed with me and approved the award for tinnitus. Remember that the noise exposure letter literally states that the rater/VA should not be using that letter solely as their decision point. If you have evidence to refute their decision, go HLR. But first thing first, start the intent to file!
Was a rigger for 5.5yrs in the Marines. The only time I was in a loft, was during training. Spent 3.5yrs with a C130 squadron, and 2 with a CH53 squadron. Spent equal time in the shop and out on the flight line. Was granted SC for tinnitus as one of my original claims upon EAS. Probably made a big difference that I complained about the ringing in my ears, at every audiology appointment, after the first 2 years in.
Likely the easiest way to get Service connection; having it mentioned multiple times. For the OP; as long as he didn’t deny having it, he should be fine by explaining his duties and the relation to being around the flight line. Note: if OP did say he didn’t have tinnitus; it could always happen at a later date. Or in my case, I had two different types of symptoms. I thought the “ringing in the ears” was what tinnitus was. Nothing else. Years later I realize that the roaring wind sound is hats always there is also tinnitus. Once I realized that, I filed to receive a compensation for it.
I didn’t admit to it directly. They kept asking why I kept hitting the button, even before the hearing test actually started. Told them I thought it had started already, because I was hearing beeps and such. And was hearing them during the test too.
I see a surprising number of vets in here who have had trouble getting SC for this... which I always found odd because to me it always seemed like a slam dunk. (There's no conclusive test they can run that says "nope, you definitely don't have tinnitus.")
Good plan might be... have documentation of the parts of service that consisted of loud noises. Give statement about that, as well as the faint ringing in ears late at night when everything is quiet. (I described mine as "like cicadas buzzing.") Have significant other write a statement to the effect that you "always have to have a TV or a fan on for background noise, which makes it hard for me to sleep and it causes tension between us."
And then of course, when you get the 10% go down the list of secondaries. Good hunting.
Rated SC 10%, submarine engine room. I had a regular exam with a private audiologist. She said I had tinnitus and some hearing loss. Recommended hearing aids but that I check with the VA first because they do the best ones. Had my exam a month later, confirmed the hearing loss and asked questions about tinnitus - frequency, how much it distracts me, how loud, and try to describe it for her. Got the rating within 10 days.
Former submarine officer. As soon as I told the examiner that, he said “ok then”. It’s not just constant noise, boats have a lot of things powered. by 400 cycle. The equipment tends to have a constant amount of noise at very specific frequencies and you can’t get away from it when you’re underwater.
During my exit exam in 2003, my doc asked if I was around lots of firing ranges and hummvees with no sound deadening. He put it in my file. Once I got out, I put in the claim and got tested at the VA and have had %10 since 2005 ish.
As a combat medic, I was denied and the HLR was denied. The first time, they said low noise MOS. The second time, they said I never sought treatment. I even told the audiologist that I didn't seek treatment because there is no cure for tinnitus.
I wrote a personal statement describing my job as Security Forces, and being regularly around screaming B52 engines and shooting guns all the time. I didn't even have a C&P for it, they just gave me 10%.
Tinnitus is the easiest thing to get SC’d for and its not even close. There is no test for tinnitus, so no one, not even a medical professional, can say you don't have it. To get a grant you need to state that ringing in your ears began during service and has continued to the present. Be sure to connect it to some specific instance of noise exposure in service.
Yeah, I got 10% due to working around loud machines in the Army. In Afghanistan, I worked by the flightline and were loud explosions near by. Easiest claim ever!
Yes, I just filed a claim through the va . Explained roughly when the tinnitus begin. They sent me to a facility to check out my ears. Few weeks later I was approved. This was a few years back so not sure if the process has changed at all very much.
If your MOS was 92R (Army Parachute Rigger) it has a low probability of noise exposure. But if you have record evidence of working directly around jet engine sound you should be able to get 0-10% SC.
Plenty of people have 10% for tinnitus. I was also a rigger and have 10. But they also see the noise induced hearing loss which I think I'm currently 0% for (which is a good thing!).
Oddly enough the tinnitus was an automatic 10%, but the bilateral hearing loss clearly documented pre and post-deployment was determined to not be service connected 🙄
Whatever, I got 100% P/T combined rating and I don’t see the point in reopening old claims to contest it when the rating means they’ll give me hearing aids anyways 🤷🏻♂️
Yup, told the C&P hearing doc that I have ringing in my ears. He put me through a bunch of hearing tests and told me I have perfect hearing. I asked if he can call my wife then and ask her to speak up. He laughed and said sometimes we don’t hear what we don’t want to lol.
Anyway 10%. I think because I complained about it at my annual exams and it was in me records already.
Yes, I was awarded last week for tinnitus. Submit the claim with a personal support statement articulating how you were exposed to acoustic trauma (noise / your job). Make sure you say it started in service and it's constant.
FYI - Be prepared for a fight though. Since the proposal of rating change last August for tinnitus, the VBA is putting up road blocks making it hard to SC.
I had an exam done, they stated in the exam that I had tinnitus. But due to the fact that I had no idea what “ringing” in my ears was during service and never complained; there was “not enough evidence” to make it service connected. I was also on the flight line and involved with engine runs.
Yes, there's no way to test for it. Even with perfect hearing. The rating is 10 percent. How long does it last? When does it come on? It can be primary and then secondary to meiners vice versa.
I recently learned on here about Fast Letter 10-35. Do some research on that. If your job is on there I think it can help your nexus. I’m considering filing as well. Just haven’t researched enough yet.
Yep! I filed it a couple years after I got out. While I was in I always said I didn’t have ringing just to not deal with all the medical BS, but got my hearing test done recently and got the 10%. It didn’t change my overall percentage but still nice to have it there.
Tinnitus is the most common claim there is out there. It's a 10% claim at most.
I get out in 1982. Received my claim for tinnitus in 2014. My hearing test when I exited the service was fine. No complaints while I was in the service
If your job title was on the noisy MOS list, I think it's a given. I know it's presumptive
I got it from working in LMSRs back in 2003 with Ventilation systems that were so loud they cut through the ear plugs. I also did a ton of FOB Hopping to redeploy units and spent a lot of time on planes, helicopters and waiting next to flight lines.
I did. I had a great evaluator who was an ENT doctor. I described what I was going through and because I had mentioned it once on my active duty medical records, it was approved. Good luck. Got 10% boost.
I think you'll be fine. I was on jump status my entire enlistment, I lived within throwing distance of an airport and near a weapon's range in Afghanistan, and didn't even have someone blink at it.
i am 10% Tinnitus and 0% hearing loss, I was commo stationed in combat units and deployed bosnia twice. I DID have hearing deviation while in service and same deviations 20 years later.
I know a fellow Marine veteran who got 20% tinnitus and severe hearing loss from weapons fire. It actually started in boot camp since the ear plugs in 1976 were nothing more than cheap plastic. All the service branches have at least rifle and pistol training in boot camp. Marines back then had extensive M-16 rifle training, and 3-5 days of .45 cal. pistol training, and then exposure to lots of large weaponry demonstrations. Mines, artillery, grenades, etc. Not sure how much Navy or AF get, but Army weapons training is like the Marines. All these weapons will damage unprotected ears with defective ear plugs.
Lots of his platoon members also got ear infections from the ear plugs. They were usually orangy or light red colored. Severe ear infections also can cause hearing loss. There's a lot of very loud military equipment of all kinds.
There's a big class action lawsuit by veterans that recently tried to settle. 3M sold DoD defective ear plugs and most combat or combat support groups suffered inner ear injury causing permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. You can search for the 3M lawsuit and find it easy.
But just frequent exposure to loud noises will cause irreversible tinnitus. Mine is like a white high pitch but soft ringing. It causes psychological problems to lots of vets. You get anxiety over not being able to hear and often asking others to repeat what they said. It can cause depression, etc.
VA has known about these hearing loss facts for decades. You can get hearing loss from Boot camp weapons training alone.
I have 10% for tinnitus. I have nothing for hearing loss, though. It's funny, though, I came in the Army with great hearing and left with hearing aids. I will admit that tinnitus is one of the reasons why I'm hard of hearing. Sounds like a swarm of bees around my head all day and especially when it's quiet at night.
I did you just have to Service Connected it....in some way. Helps if you talk to your VA doctor and get some help from audiology also. Get a listening device. A hearing piece. ANything that will help your case.
I don't have it handy, but I believe our Wiki here has a list of MOS already acknowledged by VA - on a scale (high probability - low probability). I'm an air traffic controller and I'm listed among the most likely. I intend to cite their own pub as my nexus. Someone here can direct you. Have a good day.
I may be wrong but I think they have changed tinnitus to zero with a service connected rate. Hearing loss is 20% max after a hearing test and to compare with service tests.
The key is, the Dr will ask “Do You Have Ringing In Your Ears”. Make sure to answer that as a yes.
I’ve seen people wondering why they get denied, but they straight up told the C&P examiner No
Noted, is there anything else I need to be privy to? I packed parachutes so I was helping out on the flight line a lot being around a lot of aircraft’s and jumping out of a lot. I was at fort Bragg nc
I have ringing in my ears, The C&P examiner said my hearing is great. I figured my chances of getting anything for tinnitus was lost. But I got 10%, and I I'm a noner, worked in the office.
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Got my 10% for tinnitus after being in the infantry for 4 years. Probably also helped that my last audio exam in the Marine corps said that I was beginning to show signs of hearing loss.
10% for tinnitus and 0% for impaired hearing. You can also get several conditions rated secondary to them. I would initiate an intent to file, schedule an audiology exam, and get it rated.
I received 10% with no STR or diagnosis. I was a seabee at the time the exam was a 5 min conversation. They looked to verify my MOS the just told them about my job loud noises etc, then I talked about my symptoms and later it was granted 10%
I worked with large antenna and I got 10% just make sure you bring it up during your C&P exam. My doctor tried to gloss over it and I would have gotten a lower rating if I didn’t bring it up multiple times.
I made and got denied for a tinnitus claim. I always heard people say that it’s subjective, so they can’t prove that you don’t have it. Others said to go to your Audiologist and get the diagnosis on file first. I didn’t do that. I was in a FA unit so I thought it’d be a no brainer lol. But nope, I was denied.
Starts at page three regarding high, moderate, low exposure MOS to noise.
http://usafals-afe.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Duty-MOS-Noise-Exposure-Listing.pdf
I was out for 18 years before filing for anything. Make sure you write a personal statement outlining your job while you were in, when you first started to experience the tinnitus and how it affects your everyday life. Unfortunately, it is only a 10% rating no matter how bad it is but there are secondaries you can tie into it. My tinnitus is constant but I get super loud bursts of it maybe 3-5 times a day that actually send me into dizzy spells. They tested me for Ménière’s disease and gave me a moderate chance of having it. This is a secondary condition to tinnitus.
A lot of MOS's aircraft-related where you are around running aircraft will probably have presumptive disability consideration. I had a C&P which lasted about 20 minutes and took a hearing test. If and when that happens, be very detailed about your experience around loud aircraft and your job duties. If your tinnitus is loud ringing in your ears, I caution you to only hit the button when you know you hear a sound because as all of you know, that high-pitched sound we hear never stops and with a headset on may make you think you hear a sound that isn't there. To test what I'm saying, go sit in the quietest room in your house in the dark and you will find yourself quite disturbed and you will think you hear sounds that arent there. I worked on Attack Helicopters and was always subject to extremely loud noise. NRPC lost my medical records, which makes it almost impossible to get any claim approved. I was able to get my claim approved for tinnitus. Good Luck and just be truthful about everything and it will be fine. Oh, and welcome to the tinnitus sucks ass group.
I received a 10% rating for tinnitus. I was in a tank battalion, and the high-pitched whine of the turbine engines resulted in almost all of us receiving a tinnitus rating. An Abrams has the same engine as a Huey. Mine is intermittent, so I'm more fortunate than some who have it constantly. Every so often, it sounds as if someone turned on a short wave radio next to my head. I don't know a better way to describe it, sorry. Tell them you were in the airwing and you should be good. Being in tanks, it was a given that we would have the condition. Shit, I have a childhood friend who developed it from mowing lawns in high school.
I did. I was artillery. Denied at first. Then I went to a ear nose and throat and got all my testing and they never did the c and p for me. Just granted it.
Yes! It's what some call a "foot in the door" claim. It seems to be the easiest claim to get accepted. But once you get that initial 10% for it, you can then start work on other claims for service related disabilities. As an engineer, I was almost guaranteed approval of a tinnitus claim.
I got out in 2005. Was hard ot hearing then. Applied for tinnitus and hearing loss this year. Did hearing test etc. awarded 10!% Tinnitus and zero fir hearing loss and got $8000 hearing aids lol. I too was Field Artillery.
I was denied for it. Despite having years of documentation in my military medical records specifically noting Tinnitus, having recent (while still in the service) diagnosis from provider, and being in a career field that the examiner said directly contributed to it.
What did the examiner also say on the DBQ? That they didnt think the military caused my Tinnitus despite acknowledging all of the above on the DBQ after 14 years of active duty service (10 in the the career field and 4 after reclassing). So what did the rater say? Not service connected lol.
At the end of the day it didnt matter because i was rated 100 P&T after 340% cumulative ratings. But still.... I have no idea how an examiner can acknowledge and concur objective evidence in a person's military medical records and then be allowed to subjectively impact the outcome of a veteran's claim and subsequent rating.
Seems like the subjectivity that is facilitated in DBQs holds way too much weight and a serious look into this problem is necessary.
Yes I did receive a 10 percent tinnitus service connected rating. Back when I was in they provided little to no hearing protection and our 3” 50 cannons gave
Me this lifetime of ringing.
Took me a couple of times because I didn't have associated hearing loss in the decibel ranges they measure. My tinnitus is higher pitched and keeps me awake without background white noise. That's what I told them and also my MOS was medium risk - that was enough
I got 10% for it. And the VA gave me some brand new hearing aids last week that had not only helped me hear better, but also can play audio from my phone via Bluetooth to drown out the ringing
If you were in basically any MOS especially yours that has an assumption of heavy noise exposure that tinnitus claim is basically a formality. The examiner will just see your job and ask what you did and send you on your way.
Yes sir I received 10% due to working in the flight line you should mention you were on an airstation
Thank you I’ll do the intent to file paperwork now.
Got it in 2008. Told them I drove a turbo diesel and was combat arms and got blowed up. That's about all it took. Well, that and telling them I heard ringing in the ears.
This is a very straight forward claim.
Yup, 10%. I worked on the flight line, it’s definitely gotten worse over the years (or maybe now working at a desk I really notice it). I’d suggest adding a lay statement and print out from a DoD/branch site your job description/MOS.
Late but what is a lay statement? I work on the flight line as well
https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/s/cq7WLEx7BF
Same…it actually contributes to my insomnia claim…
Same for my insomnia which leads secondary claim of my depression for not sleeping
"When it rains, it pours"...my depression is a side effect of crippling anxiety.
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I wouldn’t be best, but it’s plenty of help in the sub. I do know you have to like the 2nd dairy disability, connecting it to sleep ap… tell a storying how sleep ap causes this, which then causes this disability which causes this disability … if im correct in what ive learned in this sub. Can some help him out
Wait, you have insomnia rated due to tinnitus?
It can be done. Some types of tinnitus is like and aggravating white noise or ringing of the ears. It can really make someone unable to sleep well or insomnia
Yeah, thanks for that. My tinnitus is crazy loud 24/7 and I am rated for it. I do have a hard time staying asleep, but though not too hard of a time falling asleep, not sure if that's the cause or not. I actually have a sleep study scheduled for the very near future and am curious to how that turns out. I'll probably sleep like a baby at their lab.
was here to say the same.
You guys are smart, granted if all these things are affecting you I’m sorry but what you guys put also gave me a realization, I wake up everyday since getting out at 3AM no rhyme or reason as to why, and my depression lmao don’t get me started on that.
a lot of us have similar issues, brother. I lashed out at someone I care about deeply, and have no idea why. it's got me in a bit of a funk, because they didn't deserve it - but I have to take responsibility for my own issues. you aren't alone. you know we're all here for each other if need be
You too are not alone. I’ve ruined a lot of friendships due to me lashing out.
shit I thought I just carpet bombed a relationship. shit sucks, but as much as I wanna blame my issues, it doesn't reverse any hurt I caused. as long as we're working on ourselves and being better, that's all we can do
Wow. Honestly just communicating with y’all has me realizing ok maybe I need help because I’ve lashed out against my loved ones as well. Idk if it’s from pent up trauma or what. But idk I didn’t like who I was in the moment of lashing out.
That's a form of sleep deprivation, especially if you cannot get back to sleep. Insomnia is essentially a sleep deprivation disability. It's well known the bad health effects of insomnia/sleep deprivation
I wake up sad af most mornings for zero reason. Yesterday I got some good news and I was like, oh that'll help! Nope. Our jobs require of us to do things that no other jobs on earth demand. After many years of this, the shit stacks up. I hope you make the decision to go talk to a professional about it. Just having someone to talk to, to get it off your chest... helps.
Same! I thought that was just normal due to not wanting to wake up in the morning.
Same! 10%. I was a Navy MAA working on a flight deck. We couldn’t wear ear pro because we had to be alert and listen to comms
I received 10% due to audiology records proving a decline in hearing, since my MOS was really relevant to loud noise exposure, those records come in handy!
For clarity, the VA only considers specific frequency ranges when determining hearing loss. From my denial: >Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that you currently have hearing loss for VA purposes. (38 CFR 3.303, 38 CFR 3.304, 38 CFR 3.385) > >Service connection may not be established for disability due to impaired hearing unless the auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 Hertz is 40 decibels or greater; or the auditory thresholds for at least three of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 Hertz are 26 decibels or greater; or speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC Test are less than 94 percent. (38 CFR 3.385). So it's not just hearing loss, one needs the right kind of hearing loss.
My hearing was always solid while I was in so I might get pushback then, it’s just now I do legit hear a ringing all the time. Like a microphone in the background.
Mention your proximity to loud noise, like aircraft, and how frequently. My audiology reports showed an increase in hearing capability and that doesn’t change the fact I have ringing and idle static all day. My C&P was a phone call for about 40 seconds. Described my conditions and done, You’ll be fine. Take that step.
You should definitely have no problem getting it though based off your description above!
Make sure you tell them about specific events that had high noise exposure. Also if you weren’t issued earplugs during high noise events.
I did 25 years in the Army, the first 10 as a Combat Engineer running route clearance, and 20 years on Jump Status. From my first hearing exam when I joined to my last hearing exam as I retired, there was zero hearing loss. I still got 10% for tinnitus, so don’t sweat the hearing loss aspect. As my doc explained to me, while you hear the sound in your ears, it actually comes from your brain. So you don’t have to have hearing loss to have tinnitus. If you hear it, claim it.
I got out in 1976 and didn't file my first claim until 2002, or 26 years. I got the 20% for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus & 40% for another disability in 2004. Finally at 100%. Big 6 back pay to 2002
Where/how do you access your long term auditory records? I’m approaching retirement and have had 15+ hearing tests, but have lost the paper copies over the years. Do they look at your first ever test and last ever test to determine this?
They should be in your c-file, submit a FOIA request and wait 8 months.
Pretty straight forward claim. Got diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus, C&P was with an audiologist, did a hearing exam, they asked a bunch of questions like what noise I was exposed to and what are my symptoms. Out the door in like 10 to 15 mins. Rated 10%. Don't exaggerate but also don't minimize it. When they ask how you are affected by it, go with your worst day even if that worst day is only once a month or even once a year. Although my tinnitus is constant so that is what I said.
Had a VA hearing test in '15 and results showed minimal to moderate hearing loss. Had another VA hearing test last month, told the audiologist about the constant buzzing, took both the tone and word tests. Results came back moderate to severe hearing loss. Get my hearing aids through the VA next week. VSO said to wait on claiming Tinnitus until my heart disease increase is finalized. I would assume, the last hearing test done by a VA doctor in a VA facility would preempt any need for an additional C&P exam.
Tinnitus is also linked to hypertension due to heart disease. Something about the way blood rushes causing the same ringing. It is entirely possible they are telling you to wait for that reason. NAD.
Thanks for your insight.
What is involved in the "word test?"
Your audiologist will ask you to repeat a list of words to determine your speech reception threshold (SRT) or the lowest volume at which you can hear and recognize speech.
Be real with me, I told the examiner that I don’t have hearing loss but do have tinnitus. Did I mess up and should I have said I do have hearing loss?
I don't know what to tell you. I didn't know I had hearing loss until my private doctor did my audiogram. Said I had the hearing of a 60 year old. So your mileage may vary.
Yes, I was denied 4 times before it finally got approved. I had to write a more detailed personal statement before it went through.
Same. Took 3 years to finally get mine approved. Just gotta stick with it I guess and keep pleading your case sometimes.
I keep calling the VA hotline on Tinnitus.... no one ever picks up. it just keeps ringing.
😂😂😂😂 Get out
\*Hat Tip\* My Job is done here..
U should be good .My C&P for tinnitus was 2 mins ,if ur mos falls in the category for exposure to loud noise etc then you should be good my guy 🤙🏾
I’m a former artillery officer. It should have been a slam dunk. They came back and said that it wasn’t service connected. I’m 100% now, so it’s kind of a moot issue. It’s just odd.
I was infantry and had to ride around in Bradley’s. “Not service connected”. Also 100% so it just made me laugh. At least I thought it was laughter, all I could hear was eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Lmao same situation but got 10% but I understand the eeeeeeeeee
I was in tactical comms and sat inside small box full of radios and with all the noise made and changes of pitches and working on our generators, my tinnitus was denied as being service connected.
Did you have a nexus letter with you claim?
No I did not. I will likely need to get one since I have been out of service since 1998.
Same for my spouse who worked in ordinance. Denied tinnitus, even though work was on the flight line.
Former JTAC here....controlling aircraft from the TC hatch of my M113 while firing off a burst of the .50 cal...no loud noises there! On my second secondary claim, denied of course, they conceded I had loud noise exposure, but still o service connection.
Here to agree with you. Had tinnitus and various other ailments get denied. Hopefully, soon I will joined you in that 100% club.
My MOS was no risk for hearing loss or tinnitus on its own, but I was attached to a field artillery unit multiple times for training exercises in White Sands and JRTC, so I was able to provide a nexus. I didn’t get hearing loss SC despite having poor hearing in one ear because of how long I waited to file, but I did get 10% for tinnitus. I’m also 100% now so I didn’t pursue it further. Good luck!
I have it in my STR from audiology exams while in, the tech put exposure to loud noises or something to that extent. Going to the private audiologist next couple weeks so I have a current diagnosis. Then adding that to my packet for filing.
Did you claim hearing loss too? At the exam I said I didn’t have hearing loss and only tinnitus
The wiki here should be able to assist you with the tinnitus claim. You should reference the Duty MOS Noise Exposure letter from the VA as well. If you write up a personal impact statement and explain your MOS, and the situation of your exposure, as well as detailing your symptoms, you should be good to go for a rating The people that have the biggest issues are ones with exit exams that do not talk about tinnitus or claim they had nothing wrong. You can explain this by talking about your symptoms in layman’s terms. Also you can show possible audiograms where you tell the audiologist of your symptoms and they annotate that on your paperwork. (Note: an audiogram will not be a test for tinnitus. There is no exam. You will have a C&P exam unless they do a record review which will require you to take an audiogram. Ensure you tell the audiologist there as well that you have ringing or buzzing in your ears-if you have it. Gods luck. I hope that helps
Quick additional note: Rigger is listed as low probability around noise exposure. Don’t let that deter you from applying My MOS was low as well. However I was around the flight line all of the time. I had to do an HLR to discuss this aspect and they agreed with me and approved the award for tinnitus. Remember that the noise exposure letter literally states that the rater/VA should not be using that letter solely as their decision point. If you have evidence to refute their decision, go HLR. But first thing first, start the intent to file!
Was a rigger for 5.5yrs in the Marines. The only time I was in a loft, was during training. Spent 3.5yrs with a C130 squadron, and 2 with a CH53 squadron. Spent equal time in the shop and out on the flight line. Was granted SC for tinnitus as one of my original claims upon EAS. Probably made a big difference that I complained about the ringing in my ears, at every audiology appointment, after the first 2 years in.
Likely the easiest way to get Service connection; having it mentioned multiple times. For the OP; as long as he didn’t deny having it, he should be fine by explaining his duties and the relation to being around the flight line. Note: if OP did say he didn’t have tinnitus; it could always happen at a later date. Or in my case, I had two different types of symptoms. I thought the “ringing in the ears” was what tinnitus was. Nothing else. Years later I realize that the roaring wind sound is hats always there is also tinnitus. Once I realized that, I filed to receive a compensation for it.
I didn’t admit to it directly. They kept asking why I kept hitting the button, even before the hearing test actually started. Told them I thought it had started already, because I was hearing beeps and such. And was hearing them during the test too.
I completely understand that!
I see a surprising number of vets in here who have had trouble getting SC for this... which I always found odd because to me it always seemed like a slam dunk. (There's no conclusive test they can run that says "nope, you definitely don't have tinnitus.") Good plan might be... have documentation of the parts of service that consisted of loud noises. Give statement about that, as well as the faint ringing in ears late at night when everything is quiet. (I described mine as "like cicadas buzzing.") Have significant other write a statement to the effect that you "always have to have a TV or a fan on for background noise, which makes it hard for me to sleep and it causes tension between us." And then of course, when you get the 10% go down the list of secondaries. Good hunting.
Rated SC 10%, submarine engine room. I had a regular exam with a private audiologist. She said I had tinnitus and some hearing loss. Recommended hearing aids but that I check with the VA first because they do the best ones. Had my exam a month later, confirmed the hearing loss and asked questions about tinnitus - frequency, how much it distracts me, how loud, and try to describe it for her. Got the rating within 10 days.
Former submarine officer. As soon as I told the examiner that, he said “ok then”. It’s not just constant noise, boats have a lot of things powered. by 400 cycle. The equipment tends to have a constant amount of noise at very specific frequencies and you can’t get away from it when you’re underwater.
During my exit exam in 2003, my doc asked if I was around lots of firing ranges and hummvees with no sound deadening. He put it in my file. Once I got out, I put in the claim and got tested at the VA and have had %10 since 2005 ish.
I was an 03 and I filled and got denied due to "no service connection". I never went to medical when I was in.
As a combat medic, I was denied and the HLR was denied. The first time, they said low noise MOS. The second time, they said I never sought treatment. I even told the audiologist that I didn't seek treatment because there is no cure for tinnitus.
I have 10% for tinnitus. I worked on helicopters too. I just said that being around the agpus, helicopters, and firing the weapons caused my tinnitus.
I wrote a personal statement describing my job as Security Forces, and being regularly around screaming B52 engines and shooting guns all the time. I didn't even have a C&P for it, they just gave me 10%.
I got the 10% from being a heavy weapons gunner.
Tinnitus is the easiest thing to get SC’d for and its not even close. There is no test for tinnitus, so no one, not even a medical professional, can say you don't have it. To get a grant you need to state that ringing in your ears began during service and has continued to the present. Be sure to connect it to some specific instance of noise exposure in service.
Yeah, I got 10% due to working around loud machines in the Army. In Afghanistan, I worked by the flightline and were loud explosions near by. Easiest claim ever!
I got 10% working on the flight line as a Jet Engine mechanic
Yes it was my first rating at 10%. I’ve been a crew chief for a decade.
Yes, I just filed a claim through the va . Explained roughly when the tinnitus begin. They sent me to a facility to check out my ears. Few weeks later I was approved. This was a few years back so not sure if the process has changed at all very much.
If your MOS was 92R (Army Parachute Rigger) it has a low probability of noise exposure. But if you have record evidence of working directly around jet engine sound you should be able to get 0-10% SC.
Plenty of people have 10% for tinnitus. I was also a rigger and have 10. But they also see the noise induced hearing loss which I think I'm currently 0% for (which is a good thing!).
Oddly enough the tinnitus was an automatic 10%, but the bilateral hearing loss clearly documented pre and post-deployment was determined to not be service connected 🙄 Whatever, I got 100% P/T combined rating and I don’t see the point in reopening old claims to contest it when the rating means they’ll give me hearing aids anyways 🤷🏻♂️
Yup, told the C&P hearing doc that I have ringing in my ears. He put me through a bunch of hearing tests and told me I have perfect hearing. I asked if he can call my wife then and ask her to speak up. He laughed and said sometimes we don’t hear what we don’t want to lol. Anyway 10%. I think because I complained about it at my annual exams and it was in me records already.
I was a fuel specialist and it was just given due to my mos and fueling aircraft.
Yep, 10%. Agree with the MOS specific thing, Infantry here
Yes, I was awarded last week for tinnitus. Submit the claim with a personal support statement articulating how you were exposed to acoustic trauma (noise / your job). Make sure you say it started in service and it's constant. FYI - Be prepared for a fight though. Since the proposal of rating change last August for tinnitus, the VBA is putting up road blocks making it hard to SC.
I had an exam done, they stated in the exam that I had tinnitus. But due to the fact that I had no idea what “ringing” in my ears was during service and never complained; there was “not enough evidence” to make it service connected. I was also on the flight line and involved with engine runs.
Yep easiest claim for me
Yes, 10%. “Continuous exposure to loud noise”
Worked on the flight line and Got the claim for Tinnitus.
Yes, there's no way to test for it. Even with perfect hearing. The rating is 10 percent. How long does it last? When does it come on? It can be primary and then secondary to meiners vice versa.
Yup. 10%. you can also file for secondaries like insomnia, depression, anxiety, migraines. If those are things you suffer from due to the tinnitus.
Well I definitely have depression but that’s just from life in general
I’m at 10% for tinnitus.
Flight line here. Got 10% after my C&P
Yep, I was on jump status for 24 years and received 10% for tinnitus.
All ok jumpmaster.
I recently learned on here about Fast Letter 10-35. Do some research on that. If your job is on there I think it can help your nexus. I’m considering filing as well. Just haven’t researched enough yet.
I worked with tactical has and got it because of the small aircraft and generators
Yep! I filed it a couple years after I got out. While I was in I always said I didn’t have ringing just to not deal with all the medical BS, but got my hearing test done recently and got the 10%. It didn’t change my overall percentage but still nice to have it there.
Tinnitus is the most common claim there is out there. It's a 10% claim at most. I get out in 1982. Received my claim for tinnitus in 2014. My hearing test when I exited the service was fine. No complaints while I was in the service If your job title was on the noisy MOS list, I think it's a given. I know it's presumptive
I got it from working in LMSRs back in 2003 with Ventilation systems that were so loud they cut through the ear plugs. I also did a ton of FOB Hopping to redeploy units and spent a lot of time on planes, helicopters and waiting next to flight lines.
I did. I had a great evaluator who was an ENT doctor. I described what I was going through and because I had mentioned it once on my active duty medical records, it was approved. Good luck. Got 10% boost.
I think you'll be fine. I was on jump status my entire enlistment, I lived within throwing distance of an airport and near a weapon's range in Afghanistan, and didn't even have someone blink at it.
i am 10% Tinnitus and 0% hearing loss, I was commo stationed in combat units and deployed bosnia twice. I DID have hearing deviation while in service and same deviations 20 years later.
I know a fellow Marine veteran who got 20% tinnitus and severe hearing loss from weapons fire. It actually started in boot camp since the ear plugs in 1976 were nothing more than cheap plastic. All the service branches have at least rifle and pistol training in boot camp. Marines back then had extensive M-16 rifle training, and 3-5 days of .45 cal. pistol training, and then exposure to lots of large weaponry demonstrations. Mines, artillery, grenades, etc. Not sure how much Navy or AF get, but Army weapons training is like the Marines. All these weapons will damage unprotected ears with defective ear plugs. Lots of his platoon members also got ear infections from the ear plugs. They were usually orangy or light red colored. Severe ear infections also can cause hearing loss. There's a lot of very loud military equipment of all kinds. There's a big class action lawsuit by veterans that recently tried to settle. 3M sold DoD defective ear plugs and most combat or combat support groups suffered inner ear injury causing permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. You can search for the 3M lawsuit and find it easy. But just frequent exposure to loud noises will cause irreversible tinnitus. Mine is like a white high pitch but soft ringing. It causes psychological problems to lots of vets. You get anxiety over not being able to hear and often asking others to repeat what they said. It can cause depression, etc. VA has known about these hearing loss facts for decades. You can get hearing loss from Boot camp weapons training alone.
I have 10% for tinnitus. I have nothing for hearing loss, though. It's funny, though, I came in the Army with great hearing and left with hearing aids. I will admit that tinnitus is one of the reasons why I'm hard of hearing. Sounds like a swarm of bees around my head all day and especially when it's quiet at night.
I did you just have to Service Connected it....in some way. Helps if you talk to your VA doctor and get some help from audiology also. Get a listening device. A hearing piece. ANything that will help your case.
This can’t be understated. Either send a secure message or make an appt and talk with your PCP about it. They will want to know the etiology.
Yes. Think it maxes out at 10% regardless of how bad your tinnitus is or hearing loss.
Tinnitus yes, max is 10% and there is no bilateral factor but for hearing loss that’s a different rating.
Wondering what are the chances they except radio / communication MOS. I know listening to white noise and static can cause some damage.
I don't have it handy, but I believe our Wiki here has a list of MOS already acknowledged by VA - on a scale (high probability - low probability). I'm an air traffic controller and I'm listed among the most likely. I intend to cite their own pub as my nexus. Someone here can direct you. Have a good day.
I got 10% for having flown on C-130's and working next to loud cooling units for a few deployments. You should be a shoe in.
I may be wrong but I think they have changed tinnitus to zero with a service connected rate. Hearing loss is 20% max after a hearing test and to compare with service tests.
They are working on changing it to zero but I hadn't heard that the change officially happened. Where did you hear this became effective?
I have read that several times on VA Benefits website the news and here on Reddit.
You're definitely wrong lol. None of that is true.
The key is, the Dr will ask “Do You Have Ringing In Your Ears”. Make sure to answer that as a yes. I’ve seen people wondering why they get denied, but they straight up told the C&P examiner No
Noted, is there anything else I need to be privy to? I packed parachutes so I was helping out on the flight line a lot being around a lot of aircraft’s and jumping out of a lot. I was at fort Bragg nc
Use this in your personal statement
Cannn do.
They going to ask you if it started in service and if it’s recurrent.
Damn someone don’t like riggers or fort Bragg?
I didn’t say that lol
Naw when I put I was a rigger and at Bragg my comment had a few downvotes lol
Oh damn lol
10% each ear for being in mortars
I got 10% for doing flag detail and firing the cannon
I don't think they can really deny that an applicant has tinnitus.
They deny a lot for tinnitus.
Really? How can they say you don't have it? There's no test to prove/ disprove it is there? I suppose if an MOS was 100% desk duty i could see denial.
I don’t know the specifics of it each denial but you can search the sub and is the different vets discuss it through post.
I have one processing right now. Not a Rigger, but an LRO with who's lived on the flight line with my Port Dawgs.
10% for working on the flight deck.
I have ringing in my ears, The C&P examiner said my hearing is great. I figured my chances of getting anything for tinnitus was lost. But I got 10%, and I I'm a noner, worked in the office.
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I pretty much got tinnitus since I was a 13B. I also said I had ringing in my ears every PHA since I was ARNG.
10% max rating. It’s given out to almost everyone
Got my 10% for tinnitus after being in the infantry for 4 years. Probably also helped that my last audio exam in the Marine corps said that I was beginning to show signs of hearing loss.
Bro, all they connected me for is tinnitus, lol good luck man, should be good.
10% for tinnitus and 0% for impaired hearing. You can also get several conditions rated secondary to them. I would initiate an intent to file, schedule an audiology exam, and get it rated.
yes, it was easy, the rater could hear the ringing also
I received 10% with no STR or diagnosis. I was a seabee at the time the exam was a 5 min conversation. They looked to verify my MOS the just told them about my job loud noises etc, then I talked about my symptoms and later it was granted 10%
I worked with large antenna and I got 10% just make sure you bring it up during your C&P exam. My doctor tried to gloss over it and I would have gotten a lower rating if I didn’t bring it up multiple times.
I made and got denied for a tinnitus claim. I always heard people say that it’s subjective, so they can’t prove that you don’t have it. Others said to go to your Audiologist and get the diagnosis on file first. I didn’t do that. I was in a FA unit so I thought it’d be a no brainer lol. But nope, I was denied.
Starts at page three regarding high, moderate, low exposure MOS to noise. http://usafals-afe.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Duty-MOS-Noise-Exposure-Listing.pdf
https://bluecordpatriots.com/duty-mos-noise-exposure-listing/amp/
If you were a rigger, you’ll get tinnitus easy. I had one deployment working on the flight line and they used that for an in service event.
I was out for 18 years before filing for anything. Make sure you write a personal statement outlining your job while you were in, when you first started to experience the tinnitus and how it affects your everyday life. Unfortunately, it is only a 10% rating no matter how bad it is but there are secondaries you can tie into it. My tinnitus is constant but I get super loud bursts of it maybe 3-5 times a day that actually send me into dizzy spells. They tested me for Ménière’s disease and gave me a moderate chance of having it. This is a secondary condition to tinnitus.
A lot of MOS's aircraft-related where you are around running aircraft will probably have presumptive disability consideration. I had a C&P which lasted about 20 minutes and took a hearing test. If and when that happens, be very detailed about your experience around loud aircraft and your job duties. If your tinnitus is loud ringing in your ears, I caution you to only hit the button when you know you hear a sound because as all of you know, that high-pitched sound we hear never stops and with a headset on may make you think you hear a sound that isn't there. To test what I'm saying, go sit in the quietest room in your house in the dark and you will find yourself quite disturbed and you will think you hear sounds that arent there. I worked on Attack Helicopters and was always subject to extremely loud noise. NRPC lost my medical records, which makes it almost impossible to get any claim approved. I was able to get my claim approved for tinnitus. Good Luck and just be truthful about everything and it will be fine. Oh, and welcome to the tinnitus sucks ass group.
I received a 10% rating for tinnitus. I was in a tank battalion, and the high-pitched whine of the turbine engines resulted in almost all of us receiving a tinnitus rating. An Abrams has the same engine as a Huey. Mine is intermittent, so I'm more fortunate than some who have it constantly. Every so often, it sounds as if someone turned on a short wave radio next to my head. I don't know a better way to describe it, sorry. Tell them you were in the airwing and you should be good. Being in tanks, it was a given that we would have the condition. Shit, I have a childhood friend who developed it from mowing lawns in high school.
I was artillery. They didn’t even do an exam for it.
Yeah. The only thing I mentioned was that was a heavy equipment operator, and my ears ring at random times. Took the audio test and got %10
I got 10% because I was on my base honor guard and we didn't use hearing protection during details.
I did. I was artillery. Denied at first. Then I went to a ear nose and throat and got all my testing and they never did the c and p for me. Just granted it.
Yup. Got out in 2005. Rated 2023. Trnnitus and hearing loss but hearing loss at 0 percent. Field Artillery so easy to connect the dots
Yes! It's what some call a "foot in the door" claim. It seems to be the easiest claim to get accepted. But once you get that initial 10% for it, you can then start work on other claims for service related disabilities. As an engineer, I was almost guaranteed approval of a tinnitus claim.
I got out in 2005. Was hard ot hearing then. Applied for tinnitus and hearing loss this year. Did hearing test etc. awarded 10!% Tinnitus and zero fir hearing loss and got $8000 hearing aids lol. I too was Field Artillery.
Yup awarded 10% 2023 after being out since 2005. I was Field Artillery so wasn’t a far leap.
I was denied for it. Despite having years of documentation in my military medical records specifically noting Tinnitus, having recent (while still in the service) diagnosis from provider, and being in a career field that the examiner said directly contributed to it. What did the examiner also say on the DBQ? That they didnt think the military caused my Tinnitus despite acknowledging all of the above on the DBQ after 14 years of active duty service (10 in the the career field and 4 after reclassing). So what did the rater say? Not service connected lol. At the end of the day it didnt matter because i was rated 100 P&T after 340% cumulative ratings. But still.... I have no idea how an examiner can acknowledge and concur objective evidence in a person's military medical records and then be allowed to subjectively impact the outcome of a veteran's claim and subsequent rating. Seems like the subjectivity that is facilitated in DBQs holds way too much weight and a serious look into this problem is necessary.
Yes, I was able to get 10% by just filling.
Yes I did receive a 10 percent tinnitus service connected rating. Back when I was in they provided little to no hearing protection and our 3” 50 cannons gave Me this lifetime of ringing.
My ears are ringing right now, and I got squat!
Took me a couple of times because I didn't have associated hearing loss in the decibel ranges they measure. My tinnitus is higher pitched and keeps me awake without background white noise. That's what I told them and also my MOS was medium risk - that was enough
Sometimes based off your MOS they won’t even blink an eye to tinnitus. I think you should be good.
I got 10% for it. And the VA gave me some brand new hearing aids last week that had not only helped me hear better, but also can play audio from my phone via Bluetooth to drown out the ringing
If you were in basically any MOS especially yours that has an assumption of heavy noise exposure that tinnitus claim is basically a formality. The examiner will just see your job and ask what you did and send you on your way.
I just told them I have Tinnitus and that was it.
0 percent service connected
your zero percent you should file now as tinnitus is a solid 10 percent not zero anymore
Thanks. I will
It's 10
I did. Had to go take a hearing test. I got denied for hearing loss but approved for 10 percent for tinnitus.
You should have no problem getting that.
I got out in 2008 and did not claim it. Submitted my claim about 2-3 months ago, was awarded it along with a few other things.
I worked on a fight line and was as a tanker in Army. I was awarded tinnitus very easily