Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of vertigo or carpal tunnel syndrome, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's Meniere's syndrome was granted a 60 percent rating effective December 11, 2003. She also received service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The other issues were either denied or withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is now REMANDED to obtain a VA examination and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that as of the date of the August 1998 otology conference, it was factually ascertainable under the former criteria that the veteran met the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating for his service-connected vertigo. The effective date is set at June 10, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not present during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for vertigo, claimed as an ear disorder, and headaches.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, vertigo, COPD, and vision loss. The evidence did not support an increased rating or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen her service connection claims for bipolar disorder, depressive type and Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for TDIU, automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, and an effective date of December 6, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's defective hearing in the right ear, tinnitus, and vertigo are all service-connected.,Specifically, the Board found that these conditions were incurred during her period of active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo due to a lack of confirmed in-service stressors and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and granted it. The other claims were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for disability manifested by vertigo. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's left ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease, specifically related to her service in ACDUTRA. The AMC is instructed to obtain any outstanding private medical records and schedule a VA examination for the veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of Meniere's syndrome, but denied it on the merits. The cervical spine disability issue is not addressed as it is unclear whether it was part of the original appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Meniere's syndrome and headaches, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's Meniere's syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 80 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of vertigo is not related to his military service or any applicable presumptive period, and was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability, including tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran did not have residuals of a fungus of the ear, otitis externa, including Meniere's disease with vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss as a result of his military service.