Tinnitus, often described as a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, is one of the most frequently claimed disabilities among veterans. For many, this condition goes beyond just physical discomfort—it can have a profound impact on mental health, leading to depression and anxiety. If you’re a veteran suffering from these mental health conditions due to your tinnitus, you may be eligible for additional compensation through the VA.
This article will explain how you can file for VA disability for anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus, what steps you need to take to establish the connection, and how the VA rates these conditions.
Proving Depression and Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus
To qualify for a VA rating for anxiety secondary to tinnitus or depression secondary to tinnitus, you must prove that your mental health condition is either caused or aggravated by your tinnitus. Here’s how to establish that connection:
- Service Connection for Tinnitus: You must first have an existing service-connected diagnosis for tinnitus. This is a common condition among veterans, often resulting from exposure to loud noises during military service.
- Diagnosis of Anxiety or Depression: You’ll need a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression from a healthcare provider. This diagnosis should indicate that your mental health condition is directly linked to your tinnitus.
- Nexus Letter: A medical nexus letter is essential. This letter from your doctor should explain the causal relationship between your tinnitus and your depression or anxiety. Research has shown that individuals with tinnitus are at a significantly higher risk for developing mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
VA Rating for Depression and Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus
The VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of your mental health symptoms. Veterans may receive a separate rating for anxiety secondary to tinnitus or depression secondary to tinnitus in addition to their tinnitus rating. The VA looks at the impact of these conditions on your daily life, including your ability to work and maintain relationships. Learn more about VA ratings for anxiety in our article here.
Ratings for mental health conditions typically range from 0% to 100%, depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms. The higher the impact of your depression or anxiety on your life, the higher the VA rating you may receive. Learn more about VA ratings for depression in our guide.
Filing a Claim for Depression or Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus
Filing a claim for VA disability for anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus involves several steps:
- Gather Medical Records: Collect all documentation regarding your tinnitus and your mental health diagnosis, including records from your healthcare provider.
- Obtain a Nexus Letter: Ensure your doctor provides a detailed letter linking your tinnitus to your mental health condition.
- Submit Your Claim: File the claim with the VA, including all medical records and supporting documentation.
Can Tinnitus Cause Depression and Anxiety?
Yes, studies have shown that tinnitus can cause depression and anxiety, particularly when the symptoms are persistent and intrusive. Veterans suffering from tinnitus often report feeling isolated, frustrated, and unable to escape the constant noise. This can lead to a cycle of worsening mental health, making it critical to seek help and file for appropriate compensation.
Case Example: Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus
In this case, a veteran who served in the National Guard and had active-duty service from 1971 to 1972 filed a claim for disability benefits due to anxiety secondary to tinnitus. The veteran was previously denied service connection for anxiety in 1988, but after presenting new and material evidence in 2004, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals reopened the case for review. The veteran’s claim was based on the argument that his anxiety had been chronically aggravated by his service-connected bilateral tinnitus.
The Board ultimately decided to grant service connection, recognizing that the veteran’s anxiety disorder was chronically aggravated by his tinnitus. This ruling resulted in a favorable outcome for the veteran, who had been dealing with worsening anxiety linked to the intrusive and constant ringing in his ears.
Key Factors That Contributed to Winning the Claim:
- New and Material Evidence: The veteran was able to reopen his claim after presenting new evidence, including medical opinions that established a clear link between his service-connected tinnitus and his anxiety disorder.
- Medical Nexus: A medical nexus opinion provided by a VA clinician concluded that the veteran’s anxiety disorder had been aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, a critical piece of evidence in securing secondary service connection.
- Consistent Medical Documentation: The veteran’s medical records consistently documented his worsening anxiety, alongside notes linking his mental health decline to the ongoing severity of his tinnitus. These records helped to establish the chronic nature of his condition.
- Support from VA Medical Examinations: Multiple VA medical examinations, including one in 2004, supported the veteran’s claim that his tinnitus had significantly contributed to his anxiety, further strengthening the case for secondary service connection.
This case highlights the importance of providing new and material evidence, securing a medical nexus opinion, and maintaining comprehensive medical documentation when filing a VA claim for anxiety secondary to tinnitus. Through persistence and strong medical opinions, the veteran successfully linked his anxiety to his service-connected tinnitus and secured the benefits he deserved.
Case Example: Depression Secondary to Tinnitus
In this case, a veteran who served on active duty from January 1976 to February 1977 filed a claim for disability benefits for depressive disorder secondary to tinnitus. The veteran had already been service-connected for tinnitus, but he argued that the condition had caused or worsened his depression. Initially, the VA denied the claim, but after additional medical evidence was presented, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals reopened the case for further review.
The Board ultimately granted service connection, concluding that the veteran’s tinnitus had contributed significantly to his depression. This decision was based on medical opinions that linked the veteran’s chronic tinnitus to the onset and worsening of his depressive disorder.
Key Factors That Contributed to Winning the Claim:
- Consistent Medical Evidence: Medical evidence, including reports from VA and private healthcare providers, consistently documented the veteran’s struggles with depression and his ongoing complaints about his tinnitus’ severity.
- Private Psychiatrist’s Nexus Opinion: A private psychiatrist provided a detailed medical opinion that explained how the veteran’s depression was neurologically connected to his tinnitus. The psychiatrist supported the claim by citing medical studies that showed a correlation between the two conditions, offering a credible basis for the secondary service connection.
- Credible Veteran Testimony: The veteran had repeatedly expressed to both VA clinicians and private doctors that his tinnitus was directly impacting his mental health, causing him to experience depressive episodes. This consistent account strengthened his case, showing a clear link between the conditions.
- VA’s Favorable Decision Based on Reasonable Doubt: Applying the benefit of the doubt doctrine, the Board resolved the case in favor of the veteran, finding sufficient evidence to grant service connection for depression secondary to tinnitus. The Board gave greater weight to the private psychiatrist’s opinion, which provided a medically sound explanation of the link between the two conditions.
This case illustrates the importance of presenting consistent medical documentation, obtaining a strong nexus opinion, and providing a detailed personal account of how one condition affects another when seeking VA disability for depression secondary to tinnitus. With persistence and a well-documented case, the veteran was able to secure the benefits he deserved.
Avoiding Pyramiding in VA Claims
When filing a VA claim for conditions like anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus, it’s important to understand the concept of pyramiding, which is prohibited by the VA. Pyramiding occurs when the same disability or symptoms are evaluated under multiple diagnoses, resulting in an inflated disability rating.
According to 38 CFR § 4.14, the VA requires that each condition must be distinctly separate in how it manifests and affects the veteran. For instance, while both anxiety and depression may be secondary to tinnitus, they must be evaluated based on unique symptoms and impacts, without overlapping the evaluation of the same symptoms, such as nervousness or fatigue, under multiple conditions.
Avoiding pyramiding ensures that veterans receive accurate compensation without duplicating benefits for the same underlying issue.
Seek Help with Your VA Claim
If your claim for depression or anxiety secondary to tinnitus is denied or you need help navigating the VA claims process, consider reaching out for professional assistance. A VA-accredited attorney can help you file an appeal and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
For more information or to seek help with your claim, click here for a free case evaluation.
Content Reviewed by
Attorney Matthew Hill
Attorney Matthew Hill, licensed in Florida and Washington D.C., a dedicated advocate for disabled veterans with over two decades of experience, reviewed the information in this post.
