Paul-Glad you had better luck with the VA on this one than I did. I was shot down -saying that not enough proof that lost hearing was caused by those old type flight helmets-transmission whine,etc.I went in with 10/10 ears and left 3 years later with 6/5-said "it did not cause me to have any lost quality of life issues." Ask my wife?!! I am now at 5/5 both ears.