Extreme noise is often a factor in causing hearing loss and tinnitus. In fact, tinnitus is one of the most common health issues listed by veterans returning from combat zones. The extreme noise is the causative factor. That kind of damage can also be caused by a single incident like gunfire or other explosive sounds. I'm glad to hear that as time passed your hearing improved, but sorry to know you have tinnitus that remains. Hopefully that will improve too, but it may not.

Tinnitus is very common. In most cases it's accompanied by hearing loss, but not always. There is no cure, but there is research being done. Research does point out that noise is the most common cause whether it's a burst of noise like you experienced or noise that you're exposed to over a duration of time such as working in a noisy environment.

Have you seen an ENT specialist or an audiologist?