Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2010

The Veteran's residuals (dizziness, vertigo, labyrinithitis, poor balance) of a head injury are causally or etiologically related to an injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and vertigo (claimed as Meniere's disease) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the current level of disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and ear disability was granted, with the effective date set at August 26, 2009. The Veteran is now rated at 100 percent for these disabilities as of that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and Meniere's disease, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not show a chronic condition during service or within one year of discharge from service, nor is there any competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an injury to the coccyx, a left shoulder disability, and dizziness and vertigo, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's vertigo, also claimed as Meniere's Disease, was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than July 10, 2006 for service connection of vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo, or inner ear disorder, was not incurred during active military service and is therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and vertigo, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran service connection for left knee strain and Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting a VA audiological examination. The issues of an initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, assignment of a TDIU, service connection for peripheral edema of the feet bilaterally, and service connection for a bilateral eye disorder (to include conjunctivitis and punctal stenosis) are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations for his vertigo and PTSD disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions in December 1968. New evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current vertigo is not related to his service, specifically noting that there was no evidence of a nexus between his head injury in 1969 and his current condition. The skin rash issue remains pending as it has been recharacterized.

The Board denied service connection for migraines and dizziness/vertigo, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or dizziness, and headaches are not service-connected as they were not incurred during active duty or due to a disease or injury of service origin. The VA examiner found that the current conditions do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral defective hearing and Meniere's disease, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within the presumptive period. The claim was also denied for an increased rating for post-operative tonsillectomy.

The Veteran's current headaches with vertigo, disorientation, and syncope are not considered to be related to his service or a TBI incurred in service. The Board found that the evidence did not show an organic disease of the nervous system within one year of separation from service, nor could it establish continuity of symptomatology.