Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for meningitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, a low back disability, plantar fasciitis, hearing loss, and tinnitus as well as for a respiratory disorder characterized by 'breathing problems' and vertigo, finding no evidence of these conditions during the veteran's active military service or any relationship to her service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection, while his vestibular disorder was denied. The PTSD rating claim is remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from VA, Social Security Administration, and Office of Worker's Compensation.

The veteran's mandible fracture is resolved, and he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,His lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence fails to show that his current condition warrants a higher rating based on orthopedic manifestations or associated neurologic abnormalities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo and Meniere's disease, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spouse requires regular aid and attendance due to her multiple physical conditions, including osteoarthritis and statis myositis. The evidence supports this finding based on medical statements and testimony from the veteran and his grandson.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo as they were not related to his military service.

The VA has determined that since December 1, 2001, the veteran's Meniere's Syndrome does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than 30 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's residuals of a ruptured right ear drum are service-connected, while his residuals of a ruptured left ear drum and Meniere's disease are not. The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus is granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling medical examinations, and considering the intertwined issues of TDIU and increased rating for mood disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected disability for tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss with vertigo (Mônière's disease). The evidence shows no in-service occurrence of these conditions and no medical link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nuclear sclerosis of the right eye, vertigo/imbalance, and bladder incontinence as secondary to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease, effective October 28, 2005.

The Board found that the April 5, 2004 rating decision denying service connection for residuals of a fractured nose was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The January 2006 rating decision denying secondary service connection for Meniere's disease to include as secondary to service-connected tinnitus is final. New and material evidence has been received since the January 2006 decision, reopening the claim of service connection for Meniere's disease. However, there is no competent medical evidence that the veteran's Meniere's disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, vertigo with dizziness and nausea, an increased rating for eczematous dermatitis of both hands, and reopening a claim for prostatitis were denied. The Board found that the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The claims for bilateral knee disorder and chronic vestibulopathy are remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression and skin disabilities, were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or for many years after service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of vertigo and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left shoulder disability has been reopened. Service connection is granted for vertigo associated with decompression sickness, but the request for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent remains denied.