Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2012

The Board found that Meniere's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected disability, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, light headedness, and vertigo were denied. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residual scarring of the neck was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his left ear hearing loss and vertigo was granted. He is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation for vertigo, effective since June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's current vertigo was caused by a post-service industrial accident and surgery, and is not related to active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. For Meniere's disease, the Board has also found that it is at least as likely as not related to active service, including noise exposure during artillery duty. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss based on noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Meniere's disease was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including chronic migraines and vertigo due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current condition and his military service. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for Meniere's disease was granted, with the rating assigned at 30 percent prior to May 12, 2011 and since then. The condition is rated based on its direct service connection without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected true vertigo due to vestibular nerve dysfunction is being remanded as the current examination report did not address whether and to what extent the Veteran experiences dizziness and staggering.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claimed dizziness and vertigo were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dizziness, diagnosed as vertigo, is proximately due to his service-connected residuals of vivax malaria. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any current residuals of his in-service right subacute cerebellar embolic infarct and vestibular neuritis, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for cervical vertigo was granted, but the effective date remains February 1, 2010.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right acromioclavicular joint dislocation, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service. The evidence supports this conclusion with credible lay statements and medical opinions indicating ongoing shoulder pain during service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions allegedly related to cold injuries sustained during his military service in Korea. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining unit history and morning reports from relevant periods.

The Board found that the Veteran's Meniere's disease, diplopia, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his military service or any incident therein. The residuals of a traumatic brain injury were also denied as there was no evidence linking it to an in-service head injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was denied. The reductions in disability ratings for her thoracolumbar and cervical disabilities were granted, but the reduction for her cervical disability was not supported by evidence at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected dizziness and vertigo. The claim will be readjudicated with consideration of Diagnostic Code 6205 if warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, vertigo, and heat stroke as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The current diagnoses are not related to military service.