Vertigo & vestibular disorders Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to military noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal (GI) disability, and vertigo are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial rating for peripheral vestibular disorder remains at 30 percent, as the condition has already been rated to its maximum under VA regulations.

The Board has found that additional VA opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's dizziness, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and tension headaches, including migraines. The opinions should consider the Veteran's participation in a TERA and the combined effect of all his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it is related to a head injury sustained during active duty. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The claims for service connection for hypertension, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain have been readjudicated. The claim for sleep apnea has also been readjudicated.,Service connection has been granted for a neck condition, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bruxism, and vertigo.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease was denied as there is no diagnosis of the condition in his medical records. His hearing loss, rated non-compensable, remains a valid issue.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss continues to be rated non-compensably disabling.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent. A separate 30 percent disability rating for BPPV associated with his hearing loss was granted.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The service connection claims for anal fissure, hemorrhoids, herpes, and vertigo remain denied because new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claim. The service connection claim for GERD is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to provide a VA examination and medical opinion addressing the possibility of a nexus between the claimed disability and active service or exposure to asbestos. The service connection claim for sinusitis is also remanded for similar reasons.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 30 percent for vertigo is granted, while the claim for an increased rating for tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms. However, the claim for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as there was no in-service diagnosis or symptoms, and the VA examiner found it less likely caused by service.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because the condition did not begin during service or shortly after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's hypertension is also not a qualifying disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's vertigo was not service-connected as it did not start in service or shortly thereafter, and there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms. It is also not a qualifying disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during the Gulf War era.

The Veteran's headaches and Meniere's disease are being remanded for further medical evaluation to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected cholesteatoma with vertigo, status post tympanic perforation did not manifest dizziness and occasional staggering. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not support a finding of these symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and toxic exposure assessments. The Board also requests a VA examination to address the etiology of his diagnosed mental health conditions and vertigo.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Peripheral Vestibular Disorder (PVD) was denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted as the claim for PVD was received on April 16, 2020 and granted service connection at that time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for migraines was granted, but the anterior neck scar and vertigo claims remain at their current non-compensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's dizziness is granted as due to an undiagnosed illness, while his left ankle condition and skin condition are denied.