Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and irritable bowel/colon syndrome were denied. The Board also found that the claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was not well-grounded as no higher rating is available.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his positional vertigo, as well as his eye condition. The case will be returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is related to acoustic trauma in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for sleep apnea was not addressed due to a lack of development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Meniere's syndrome with deafness and tinnitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, residuals of a left wrist injury, and residuals of a right wrist injury, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development of his claim, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for an examination by an otolaryngologist, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for vestibular migraines with dizziness has been granted at a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis and Meniere's disease are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for hyperlipidemia. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and vertigo remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and vertigo (claimed as Meniere's disease) are being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Chiari malformation with headaches, blurred vision, vertigo, and cerebellar ataxia is causally related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed dizziness and vertigo, as well as vascular and tension headaches, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for vertigo and denied the claim. For the skin disorder, the Board concluded that there is no competent medical evidence showing it was caused by exposure to Agent Orange or any other in-service event.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for vertigo and residuals of a head injury has been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness and vertigo as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated at 10% since February 19, 2010.

The Veteran does not have Meniere's disease that is related to his active duty service, or that was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's episodic positional vertigo is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher 30 percent evaluation is warranted for the entire appeal period due to occasional dizziness and occasional staggering.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that a 30 percent evaluation is warranted based on three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service connection claims for nightmares and dizziness are pending, with the denial of service connection for dizziness due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The claim for nightmares remains under review.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of chronic vertigo, hypertension, and chronic sinusitis have been granted increased evaluations. The Veteran is now eligible for a 10% evaluation for each condition.

The Veteran's vertigo, resulting from a stapedectomy for otosclerosis in 2002, is considered an additional disability caused by the VA treatment and not due to carelessness or negligence. The Board finds that this event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease are as likely as not attributable to his period of active duty for training, leading to a grant of service connection.