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Hearing Loss plus Depression -VADisability

Posted by notnancy88 @notnancy88, 2 days ago

I have Tinnitus. I have been on Amikacin three times since Jan 2023. Twice by IV and once inhaled.
I have been diagnosed with mild depression.
I recently learned that the VA will consider Tinnitus from service connected hearing loss plus tinnitus and the resulting depression as disabilities.
Has anyone developed depression after developing tinnitus?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

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arrowshooter | @arrowshooter | 1 day ago

I'm also a veteran with service connected disabilities including hearing loss and tinnitus among other things. I think your "go to" is your Veterans Service Officer (VSO). These people are employed to help veterans get help. They are not VA employees and do not answer to VA. So I advise you to contact your VSO.

Also your primary care provider should be able to help you get the right answer too. You should be able to contact your PCP via "Secure Messaging" on the va.gov website (after signing up).

VA does consider tinnitus a compensable disability but only up to 10%. Depression is associated with hearing loss in 40% of cases according to what I have read. Tinnitus is also associated with hearing loss. My understanding is that hearing loss is not necessarily causative but is strongly associated with both depression and tinnitus. But those are only my experiences. Contact your VSO and PCP for better information.

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Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | 1 day ago
In reply to @arrowshooter "I'm also a veteran with service connected disabilities including hearing loss and tinnitus among other things...." + (show)
Profile picture for arrowshooter @arrowshooter

I'm also a veteran with service connected disabilities including hearing loss and tinnitus among other things. I think your "go to" is your Veterans Service Officer (VSO). These people are employed to help veterans get help. They are not VA employees and do not answer to VA. So I advise you to contact your VSO.

Also your primary care provider should be able to help you get the right answer too. You should be able to contact your PCP via "Secure Messaging" on the va.gov website (after signing up).

VA does consider tinnitus a compensable disability but only up to 10%. Depression is associated with hearing loss in 40% of cases according to what I have read. Tinnitus is also associated with hearing loss. My understanding is that hearing loss is not necessarily causative but is strongly associated with both depression and tinnitus. But those are only my experiences. Contact your VSO and PCP for better information.

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The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has an online discussion group for veterans. There is information about it on the national HLAA website. Many find that being able to talk about 'it' with people who understand because they also experience it, provides support that is not found elsewhere. Here's the link:
https://www.hearingloss.org/get-involved/veterans/

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