Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected vertigo is manifested by dizziness and occasional staggering, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, nervous stomach disorder, dizziness, nausea and vertigo, sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims were found to lack new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for dizziness and vertigo, are also pending.

The Veteran's claimed residuals of a head trauma to include headaches, memory loss, and vertigo were not shown to be related to service. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome is not etiologically related to his service-connected bilateral ear disorders and denied the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a head injury and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with foraminal stenosis, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's vertigo was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran does not have Meniere's syndrome that is related to his military service and the Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease and skin cancer (melanoma), finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or during an applicable presumptive period, and that exposure to herbicides did not cause the Veteran's melanoma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, headaches, tinnitus, postural vertigo and status post loss of consciousness, and scar of the left ear is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his service and denied his claim. The claim for vertigo was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's vestibular disorder was not present until many years after service and is not related to any event during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The issues include reopening claims of service connection for dizziness and chronic headaches, as well as determining whether the Veteran has Meniere's disease and ear aches.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and lack of notification.

The Board has granted reimbursement for the prescription drug haloperidol and denied coverage of the prescription drugs Merislon, Sibelium, Serc, and Methycobal for the Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease under Foreign Medical Benefits. The breast muscle toner request was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for Meniere's disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's condition manifested by vertigo was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board found that the condition is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.