Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for a thyroid disorder, but denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for vertigo.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current peripheral vestibular disorder and memory loss are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or since service. The Veteran's memory function has been intact post-service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for chronic vestibular disequilibrium has been denied. The Board found that a 10 percent evaluation was warranted prior to April 2, 2012 and a 30 percent evaluation from June 11, 2012 to October 6, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error for an in-person hearing at the RO. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome is related to active military service and grants this claim. The appeal for the other issues (service connection for blood clots in the left leg, peripheral vestibular disorder, and increased rating for hearing loss) is dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining specific dates of active duty service and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current sleep apnea and military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The case will be remanded for a supplemental opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and issuance of a Statement of the Case addressing all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, are pending. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied. Service connection for high cholesterol is not warranted as it does not constitute a recognized disability.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the initial ratings of major depression with PTSD, migraine headaches, vertigo, and left eye macular on retinal detachment, status post buckle procedure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, coronary artery disease (CAD) status post stent placement, and diabetes mellitus type II, are sufficiently incapacitating to result in unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's syndrome, claimed as loss of balance, is denied. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of Meniere's syndrome or any underlying condition resulting in a loss of balance. His post-service treatment records do not support this claim. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including arthritis and associated neurological symptoms, is rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board also granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for the reduction of disability rating from 100 percent to 60 percent for service-connected prostate cancer was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss rated at 40% was also dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,Evidence submitted since the May 2006 denial of service connection for a skin disorder is new and material, reopening this claim. The issue remains pending for further review by the RO/AMC.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, but denied it on the merits.,Service connection for hepatitis C was not granted as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and rhinitis are considered to have contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU prior to October 21, 2009 are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis and paralysis from the chest down, prostate and bladder disorders, blood disorder, lung disorder (including emphysema and COPD), hepatitis C, heart disorder, and Meniere's disease. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is rated at 70 percent. Service connection for vertigo is granted.