Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether a current vestibular disorder, including Meniere's syndrome, endolymphatic hydrops, and vertigo, was incurred during service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any physical residuals of a perforated right ear drum, and his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease are related to the condition. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, with the exception of the time period from March 26, 2012 to April 30, 2013 when he had a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an initial compensable rating for a left trigger finger disability.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the condition having its onset during military service and continuing since then.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of a right calf injury, to include scar tissue, and that his vertigo is not causally or etiologically related to service. Therefore, both claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including arthritis of the cervical spine and vertigo. The initial rating claim for dysesthesia of the face and scalp associated with occipital neuralgia will also be addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and Meniere's disease due to the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service injury and positive medical opinions supporting a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for vertigo, finding that it had its onset during active service and is related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's private ambulance transportation to the Fresno VAMC on March 31, 2010 was not for a medical emergency and thus he is not entitled to payment or reimbursement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current positional vertigo is unrelated to his military service, including a single episode of dizziness during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for positional vertigo is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disorder manifested by vertigo and disequilibrium is not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and granted it. The issue of service connection for vertigo is also addressed, with an examination recommended to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective from January 29, 2010. The appeal for service connection of vertigo as secondary to his hearing loss and tinnitus is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease is being remanded due to the need for clarification of whether the condition had its onset during a period of active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for an earlier effective date and CUE in a prior rating decision. The Board has determined that these issues should be remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board found no evidence of a current vertigo disability and concluded that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to his active duty service or any other condition.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo was a significant condition contributing to his death from acute large intracranial hemorrhage. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, but denied service connection for tissue damage secondary to removal of a mass from the neck.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to service connection for positional vertigo (dizziness) secondary to bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to service connection for headaches secondary to bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for skin condition to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to his military service.