Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, previously characterized as vertigo. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome and hypertension are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The VA will provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing her claims, obtain all pertinent records, and schedule her for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and vertigo have not been found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo/dizziness, finding that new and material evidence has been received. However, the claim remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's vertigo is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and her bilateral foot disorders are not entitled to a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for ratings higher than 10 percent for chondromalacia of the knees and for service connection for vertigo, to be further developed by the RO. The remaining claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for various hearing and balance conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome is manifested by dizzy spells occurring four to five times a week, which has been medically attributable to vertigo with exacerbations of hearing fluctuations and tinnitus. However, the Veteran's cerebellar gait was not related to his Meniere's syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for a new one with proper consideration of symptoms such as dizziness and staggering.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, vertigo, and erectile dysfunction. The RO must also send VCAA notice to inform the Veteran of the information and evidence necessary for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea under a secondary theory of entitlement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea disorder, and vertigo. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and addressing both direct and secondary theories of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's disease and its residuals (labyrinthectomy) are not related to service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The right ear deafness is also not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches, claimed as migraine headaches, is granted. The remaining claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's treatment for vertigo was not considered an emergency, and he did not seek prior authorization from VA. Therefore, the claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active military service and no presumption of exposure to herbicides applied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected Meniere's disease, and for consideration of staged ratings.