You have to jump thru a bunch of hoops and answer way too many questions just to "join" the VA. That is with a service related injury. Without one, more hoops to jump and questions to answer, and if you make too much money, you are denied. As it stands right now, my wife and I make too much plus the property that we own (why they facture in that I don't know), but I am trying to connect my hearing loss to the fact that I had a 50 cal going off beside one ear and a 40mm grenade launcher going off in the other. Couldn't wear earplugs because if I did, I couldn't hear the commands coming thru the intercom in the helmet. Good luck with the VA JEB. I hope you get what you want and need.