Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2009

The Veteran's episodic vertigo causes dizziness and staggering when he walks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease and a headache disorder were denied as there is no medical evidence of record that the veteran has ever had a diagnosis of Meniere's disease during the pendency of this appeal, or that his currently diagnosed headache disorder is related to military service or to a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and angina pectoris, insomnia, and dizziness, giddiness, and vertigo were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for benign positional vertigo and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD coexisting with depressive disorder, NOS, associated with hiatal hernia.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's skin disorder and vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypotension (claimed as vertigo), a low back disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The claim for psoriasis was granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Meniere's disease and TDIU, and the Board found no competent evidence linking the current hearing loss and tinnitus to military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to May 4, 2006, and increased to 20 percent effective from that date. The claim for dizziness/vertigo as secondary to the hearing loss was denied, as were the claims for TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder but denied service connection for Meniere's disease and peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

The veteran's claim for service connection for a condition manifested by vertigo, claimed as secondary to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, was remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for Meniere's syndrome, the effective date prior to July 20, 2005, and a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) claim are remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of entitlement to service connection for vertigo, to include as secondary to otitis externa.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and conducting special vestibular testing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, as there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, while the claims for increased ratings for Type II diabetes mellitus, chondromalacia patella of both knees, and vertigo were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal or etiological relationship between the veteran's vertigo and his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine and dizziness.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not require regular aid and attendance or render him housebound.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if service-connected PTSD aggravated coronary artery disease.