Independent Medical Opinions (IMOs)

Question:

I have been finding a lot of things online about claiming sleep apnea secondary to tinnitus and there have been some studies on this but seems like the VA doesn't like approving this. How can I get these connected? I have service connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

 

Jim's Reply:

You're correct...VA doesn't like approving such secondary claims because the evidence is often hard to understand and to apply to your injuries. Much of what you're reading isn't conclusive and grounded in years of further research so it's pretty easy to deny.
 

However...if you have an expert scientist, a medical doctor or a clinical psychologist, who will look at you and your situation and thoroughly review your records and then make the link for you as an individual, you can often make these connections.
 

The Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) is the key to success in so many claims that it's difficult to understate the importance of such an addition to your claim. In almost every claim the IMO can be the element of evidence that makes the difference between prevailing outright or entering the years long appeals process. 
 

You can read more about the IMO here https://www.vawatchdog.org/imo-ime-medical-opinions-exams.html