hearing loss CUE/Inferred Claim.

[syne7]

I got out of the Army in 1997 with a Medical Discharge:  I went to the VA and was rated 0% for Residuals of Left Ankle & 10% for Restrictive Airway Disease.

Fast forward to May 2016.  I put in a claim and was awarded primary service connection for Tinnitus.  I submitted no evidence other than a note saying my ears have been ringing since the service.  My service medical records show hearing loss with a standard threshold shift from 1994 to 1997.  And haven Tinnitus written in one of the records in 1996.

Now that I have been service connected.  Do I have a chance at claiming a CUE or Inferred claim on to back date to 1997?  My SMR clearly said TInnitus and they should have Inferred the claim when the reviewed them.  One of my MOSes is on the high noise list and the hearing test referrals says "Routinely exposed to hazardous noise."

Is this a potential CUE for miss of an inferred claim?

[Buck52]

Question?

is it the VA Duty to assist or responsibility to inform the veteran of a possible claim's from what is in his VA Medical records?  that the VA has diagnosed him/her with?

if so I have about 10 or so contentions I could claim that the VA has me Diagnose with.

 or Is it the veterans responsibility to file for those claims or any claim?