Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and Meniere's disease were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would support these claims.

The Veteran's current Meniere's Disease is found to be incurred in service, as it was likely related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and arrange for a VA examination. The issue of service connection for flu-like symptoms and vertigo will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Meniere's disease, which he claims is related to his hearing loss and tinnitus. The VA examiner found that the Meniere's disease was unlikely secondary to hearing loss but did not address whether it was related to military service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and Meniere's disease as secondary to service-connected tinnitus can be decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's disease, which required an endolymphatic shunt procedure in 1976, had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's vertigo is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from a private physician and providing proper VCAA notice regarding the secondary service connection theory.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ear infections and/or cholesteatoma, earaches, and a peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as loss of balance and motion sickness), all secondary to residuals of his left tympanic membrane perforation.

The Board found that the Veteran's vertigo and dizziness did not have its onset in service, is not related to service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for these conditions has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current ear disability manifested as vertigo or dizziness, and his hearing loss was not shown to be at least 10% disabling.

The Veteran's appeal was partially withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), tinnitus, and ear condition were remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy is linked to his vestibular disorder, which was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and an increased rating for Meniere's syndrome were both denied by the RO. He has filed timely notices of disagreement with these decisions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for higher ratings for migraine headaches, vertigo, and acne rosacea prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's benign positional vertigo is not etiologically related to service and was not aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected recurrent nephrolithiasis, effective October 16, 2007. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be due to his period of active service and service connection was granted. Service connection was also granted for Meniere's syndrome and a left eye disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, vertigo, upper respiratory disability, and gastrointestinal disability were denied. The Board found that the conditions did not have their onset in service or were not caused by service.

The Veteran's vertigo/dizziness has been evaluated at a 30 percent disability rating since November 8, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosis of sleep apnea, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, pes planus, bilateral leg varicose veins, or residuals of traumatic brain injury. The Veteran has been diagnosed with insomnia and hemorrhoids since separation from service.