My I suggest you use a VSO? Going to court with out an attorney is foolhardy. And in essence, when you go up against the VA, you are in an adversarial situation. They (VA) will deny that of course.
And one must pick and choose their VSO carefully. It is not a one size fits all thingy. Word of mouth. Phone calls/emails, etc. Local veterans boards online. It is worth the trouble, upfront.
Thanks for the advice, Donozark. As fate would have it, I am an attorney, although I haven't practiced for the last ten years or so. If I do end up in a scuffle with the VA, one of my friends, a Vietnam Vet who is also an attorney, has said he would assist me.
To be quite frank, I'm not sure I could establish service connection for the tinnitus. My company was set in providing security to an artillery battery for a while. Those guns make a lot of noise when you're up close to them and we were not issued ear protection.
Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)