Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Atlanta RO for scheduling a Board hearing. The initial compensable rating claim for headaches remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current and chronic vertigo is not related to his service, including his in-service flight experiences.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a balance disorder, and the Board found that his symptoms are not related to his service-connected hearing loss. His claim for an increased evaluation for hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran claims service connection for vertigo, which he asserts is related to his active military service. The Board finds the claim must be remanded due to a lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to service and because relevant VA treatment records have not been obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral peripheral vestibular loss and asthma, have rendered her unemployable due to the severity of her symptoms. The Board has granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a left foot disability, and service connection for a right hand disability. The claim for service connection for Meniere's syndrome was also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for her headache syndrome with vertigo and migraine headaches was granted prior to March 28, 2012. However, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for this condition beginning on that date was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address certain theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a hearing. The issues of service connection for migraine headaches, vertigo, and an ear disability are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's inner ear disorder with vertigo is related to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with notice of his rights to substantiate a secondary service connection claim.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's vertigo cannot be linked to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for vertigo was denied.

The claims of service connection for otitis media, tinnitus secondary to otitis media, and vertigo secondary to otitis media are being remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not incur an injury involving the spine, upper or lower extremities, or genitourinary system during active service. The symptoms of residuals from a rocket fragment wound to the thoracolumbar spine are not chronic and have not been unremitting since service separation.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including abnormal weight loss, hypertension, hyperlipidia, fatigue, fluid build-up in the ears, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, joint pain, loss of body hair, muscle pain, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, sleep disturbances, and vertigo. However, there is no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service or are related to such service.

The Veteran's vertigo is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's disability manifested by dizziness and vertigo, to include labyrinthitis and Meniere's syndrome, is representative of symptoms that most closely approximate hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times per month, with associated tinnitus. The criteria for a 60 percent rating have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discontinuity of middle ear ossicles, manifested by vertigo and a cerebellar gait, is aggravated by his service-connected left ear hearing loss. As such, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for vertigo and temporomandibular articulation, as well as a claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.