Hearing loss starts way earlier than we think. Like Skin Cancers, that start with the sunburns we got as kids, Hearing loss comes frm loud music (constant noise) shooting .22's (impulse noise), and such. In both, parents either don't catch it in time (sunburn) or say "It's only a .22, it won't hurt your hearing. Point in fact, anything above 85 dB is damaging (.22 LR at even a long barrel length, YMMV). Damage in both is cumulative, and in spite of the Study being done mentioned in the OP, is permanent.
Most electronic muffs and plugs cut off at 85, but also cut back IN at 85 so the sound is still pretty loud when they comer back. I wear plugs inside my muffs, due to that effect.
How the VA works: I find it interesting that all claims rely on either "presumption" (Agent Orange, if you were there [or even. if you weren't: navy and Guam/Thailand, your conditions are presumed to have been casued by...), or based on Evidence (medical records, or anything documented), BUT: Hearing loss (which CAN be measured) is OFTEN not compensated (there re some who get 10% just for loss), while Tinnitus, which cannnot be seen, measured, detected objectively or tested (inferred sometime if it overwhelms a certain portion of the hearing spectrum), it gets compensated based on the Patient's say-so. I get 10% for Tinnitus, nothing for the loss.
Get the Test, Let the VA provide high dollar Hearing Aids, and WEAR them. Protect what's left.