Tinnitus is the most common condition eligible for
VA Disability. The number of
Disabled American Veterans with tinnitus has risen steadily each year since 2006, with a matching increase
in the number of claims. Costs for the VA are rising, too, with $1.5 billion paid
in
VA Disability Benefits for tinnitus in 2012 alone. That figure is expected to soar to a whopping $3
billion in 2017!
There are 2 bills in Congress right now that deal with
disability for tinnitus and
hearing loss, one in the House and one in the Senate.
The bill in the House would require the VA’s Auditory
Centers of Excellence to work with the DoD’s Hearing Center of Excellence to research
the prevention and treatment of tinnitus.
This research would focus on the effectiveness of different
tinnitus treatments, the underlying causes of tinnitus, and the physical
connections between tinnitus and hearing loss. Also of concern to Congress is a
growing body of research from other sources that shows a direct link between
tinnitus and
PTSD and
TBI.
Back in 2006, a report from the Institute of Medicine of the
National Academies, titled “Noise and Military Service: Implications for
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus”, gave recommendations to the VA for properly
treating auditory conditions. The bill that is currently in the Senate would
hold the VA accountable for putting into practice the recommendations made in
this report.
If the bill passes into law, the Secretary of the VA would
be required to submit reports to Congress on how well the VA is doing providing
care, treatment, and benefits to veterans with hearing loss, tinnitus or other
auditory system injuries or conditions based on the recommendations from the
report.
The VA’s reports are to include details on the veterans that
are denied hearing loss-related benefits because their Military Occupational Specialty
(MOS) is NOT included on the Duty MOS Noise Exposure Listing.
In addition, this bill would require the VA to critically
examine and explain their criteria for
rating hearing loss and tinnitus to ensure that
the ratings and compensation properly reflect the reduced earning capacity of
veterans with auditory disabilities.
Both of these bills are still being processed by Congress,
but we will continue to watch their progress and let you know when (or if) they
pass. Hopefully they will, and soon.
Tinnitus is the most common condition eligible for VA Disability. The number of Disabled American Veterans with tinnitus has risen steadily each year since 2006, with a matching increase
in the number of claims. Costs for the VA are rising, too, with $1.5 billion paid
in VA Disability Benefits for tinnitus in 2012 alone. That figure is expected to soar to a whopping $3
billion in 2017!