Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and eczema. The Veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service. The Board also finds that the Veteran's vertigo is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability, headaches, and Meniere's disease/a disability manifested by dizziness. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a peripheral vestibular disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed peripheral vestibular disorder, and his reported symptoms were attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on all issues listed.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing addendum opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure. The case will be reviewed after this information is obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, depression, and attention deficit disorder were denied as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for either condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected hearing loss from September 3, 2013. The Veteran's tinnitus and Meniere's disease were not found to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure. Service connection was also denied for the skin condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claims for service connection, as well as a VA examination for the severity of his coronary artery disease. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to respond to this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, particularly regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and Meniere's disease.

The Board found no credible evidence of the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea, and thus denied service connection for COPD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to his active service and it is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for vertigo is denied.

The Veteran's vertigo, a residual of her traumatic brain injury (TBI), is currently rated at the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6204. The Board has considered whether other diagnostic codes might provide grounds for assigning an even higher rating but finds none applicable in this case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis resulted in functional impairment comparable to forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less on and after July 26, 2006. His left cervical radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent from May 10, 2012, to September 29, 2013, and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for Meniere's disease with tinnitus, finding that he did not meet the legal criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease. The tinnitus claim will also be scheduled for a videoconference Board hearing.