I’ve had good experiences with Disabled American Vets (DAV) helping me with claims.
I’m currently working with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as my advocate for increasing some orthopedic issue ratings that have gotten worse over time. (note - WWP seems to only serve post-911 vets. Not much help for VN or Cold War era vets.).
My biggest issue with VA has been getting disability ratings that are “not service-connected”. 20+ years in the Army in combat arms, heavy vehicles, lots of ‘splodey things, and just under 3 years downrange humping through modern combat on the ground. Not service-connected?!?
I have a hard time understanding how being in a 37-ton Bradley in an accident, rupturing discs, etc., is not “service-connected”.
Ducttape, I have 0% hearing loss and 10% Tinnitus ratings. Both “not service-connected”. I’m on the cusp of needing hearing aids, but not quite yet. All of my close circle of (6) friends are wearing them. I’m the last holdout. Hah.
Your phrasing is a problem. You can have hearing loss, declared service connected, but 0% because not sufficiently severe.
You said you have 10% tinnitus and not service connected. This is not possible. You can’t get 10% assigned unless it is service connected. You get nothing assigned for anything unless there is “a current diagnosis, evidence of the injury occurring on active duty, a nexus by a med professional concluding that the current diagnosis is at least as likely as not to exist because of active duty service.”
So you can’t have 10% rating for tinnitus unless it is service connected. If it was not service connected, there would be nothing.