Four Limbs a Hero Doth Not Make?

The Veteran's Affairs office helps folks like me file claims for compensation - medical claims that a condition was caused or aggravated by military service. Just having these things documented, no matter how minute, can come in handy later in life should the condition worsen and require medical treatment up to and including surgery.
My claim today was for hearing loss and a constant hum in my head commonly called Tinnitus. You see, I spent two-six month deployments on aircraft carriers. They tend to be noisy. Additionally, when I was assigned with a squadron I spent every workday next to a flightline where jets came and went, as well as individual engines being fired up for maintenance checks. Noisy indeed.
On to the medical center I went. If I'm honest, I felt a little guilty as an older gent passed me in the hall, one leg missing from the right side of his wheelchair. "Good morning!" he said, chipper as the proverbial chipmunk. He lost a leg. I had ringing in my ears. I believe there are degrees of suffering, and concerning my hearing loss, I think any compensation should go to my wife, who, for the next 50 years will have to repeat every sentence twice and listen to the TV on full volume just so I know what's going on.
On with the story. I arrived early for my appointment, however still had to wait 30 minutes past the set time to be seen. I was met by a smug fellow, who ushered me back to the small, soundproof room. "We are required to ask a few questions." he says.
"Sure", I says.
He asked a couple, then asks me what I did in the Navy. I told him I was an office worker. What he asked next, and the way he asked it stunned me.
"So then what does the military have to do with your hearing loss?"
"I spent two tours on an aircraft carrier. The first tour I slept under the arresting wire, the second under the catapult."
"But did you work on the flight deck?"
"No, but when we were in the yards there was about a week that someone was jackhammering right outside my office space."
"Uh huh." He said, and right there it was...it was so quick, but that look of "you didn't work near aircraft, what the hell are you doing in here trying to claim hearing loss?" was winking at me.
I didn't let it show how disappointed I was that this gentleman had passed judgment without even knowing me. I could tell by his questions that he had never spent time aboard a mighty aircraft carrier or he might have known there is no escaping the noise. Jet aircraft. Whistles blown over the PA system every hour. Bells. General alarms. And of course the constant hum of the ship herself. She never sleeps, and she lets you know it.
I wonder what ailment I would have to have to be "worthy" to say that my life has been irrevocably changed due to military life. Would I have to lose a limb? An eye? Maybe just a toe or finger would do it. What about soldiers that come back and have PTSD? They have no physical impairment, yet they have something that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Do they meet this ear-checker's criteria?
Always remember that each and every military member sacrifices something, no matter how big or how small to serve their country. I am dismayed when I realize that folks who have not served cannot even begin to understand and therefore lack capacity to empathize. To all veterans out there, a sincere thanks - I understand.

Sine Metu