THANKS to you both for responding. I will work on this some more before going to expense of the IMO letter on this....especially for tinnitus. Yes, I had a C & P which was very detailed and opinion no service connection. Yes, I got a denial on both hearing loss and tinnitus. Yes, USArmy - combat infantry badge, and MOS was 11C - mortars and 11B - infantry. Vietnam March 69 to May 70... 14 months in infantry/mortars for entire tour...extended 2 months to get OUT.
For now, I am going to back to VA for a hearing test re-do and to try to better explain the tinnitus - than I did previously. I will probably try to use Dr. Bash on claim for asthma/breathing that I have not filed yet. I had minor hearing loss but was A-OK on being able to identify words...so probably my only claim is for the 'winable' claim is for the tinnitus. (I also have a denial for sleep apnea...but that's another story.) oh well.
So I will work on this some more before proceeding with appeal. Do appreciate the confirmation on Dr. Bash... THANKS AGAIN... Jim S.
(and for the marine --- just started Matador --- so adjusting from Army to Marines... and was enlisted and that book seems to written from a lt. perspective...)
Best to you both...Jim S