Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2008

The veteran's Meniere's disease, which includes tinnitus and hearing impairment with frequent vertigo attacks since May 19, 2007, warrants a disability rating of 60 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to unclear condition status and outstanding VA records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions, and those with current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking them to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for Meniere's disease and finds that new evidence supports a finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his military service. The claim is therefore granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's Meniere's syndrome, characterized by tinnitus and some high frequency hearing impairment but normal for VA purposes, does not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for vertigo, which he claims is related to his in-service food poisoning incidents. However, the VA has not been able to locate his service medical records and there are no post-service treatment records available. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current migraine headaches and vertigo are not related to his military service. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently present but its etiology remains unclear.

The veteran is seeking service connection for vertigo, which he claims was caused by an explosion during his deployment in Iraq. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the veteran currently has vertigo and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, finding that it is a symptom of already service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease, neck disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, and low back disorder. The veteran's psychiatric disorder was found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board found no evidence of Meniere's disease during service and denied the claim as there is insufficient medical nexus evidence to link current disability to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and also denied his claim for service connection for vertigo. The case is being remanded to issue a statement of the case on the service connection issue.

The Board finds that the appellant experienced a traumatic external event during her inactive duty for training in September 1992, which caused an existing acoustic neuroma to become symptomatic by way of aggravation. The resulting symptoms include nausea, headaches, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an examination and obtaining additional medical records. The veteran's claim of service connection for vertigo is on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Meniere's disease warrants a disability rating of 60 percent, reflecting symptoms including frequent vertigo attacks and cerebellar gait.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and seeking an opinion on whether any diagnosed ear conditions are related to a pre-existing perforated eardrum.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo. The veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and denied service connection for Meniere's disease. The examiner concluded that the veteran's conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vertigo is a result of his active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue regarding bilateral knee conditions remains pending as it was not addressed in detail.