Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease were not service-connected. The Board denied her claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss (Meniere's disease) and service connection for TMJ dysfunction.

The Board found that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran claims his Meniere's syndrome was incurred in service. The Board is requesting additional records to determine the etiology of his condition and whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated in relation to his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Board found that the non-VA medical treatment provided on June 25, 2009 was not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment. Therefore, payment or reimbursement of the expenses is denied.

The Veteran's vertigo is manifested by occasional dizziness, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for voiding dysfunction, as a residual of adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is denied. The RO has granted a 40 percent rating for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if his vertigo is related to service and for obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and residuals of head injury, including headaches and vertigo, are related to traumatic accidents during active service. The decision is based on evidence in relative equipoise.

The Board has found that the Veteran's vertigo is related to his noise exposure during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and Meniere's disease due to inadequate examination reports, lack of in-service noise exposure documentation, and need for clarification regarding when symptoms began.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; left acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma; coronary artery disease; erectile dysfunction; hypertension; diabetic retinopathy; any other eye disability (other than diabetic retinopathy); dry skin (xerosis); bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; neuropathy; and a disability manifested by numbness of the hands are not ready for decision due to lack of probative evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo and bilateral knee arthritis. The Veteran's currently diagnosed vertigo is related to her military service, while the bilateral knee arthritis claim remains pending as there are no medical opinions indicating it is not related to service.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular dysfunction results in more than occasional dizziness and requires him to stop all movement and squat or rest to avoid staggering, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's vertigo and acquired psychiatric disorder were found to have onset in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including abdominal hernia, right leg lumbar plexopathy, erectile dysfunction, and head trauma with residuals of double vision and vertigo, are not considered to be a result of carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA. The complications were known potential outcomes of the AAA surgery.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by dizziness, vertigo, and difficulty with balance (Meniere's disease) at any time since the Veteran's claim. The Veteran's symptoms are attributed to his service-connected hearing loss and adjustment disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including excessive alcohol consumption and several unspecified disorders. The decision concluded that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original denial.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of frostbite or its residuals, blurry vision, recurrent heat stroke, drooling, whole body muscle pain and tightness, hyperglycemia, back disability, bronchitis, or vertigo. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.