Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2016

The Veteran's current vertigo is found to be related to his in-service symptoms, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been granted. The Board is remanding the case to determine if payment or reimbursement for unauthorized private ambulance transportation should be granted, given the Veteran's belief that failure to obtain immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to his life.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo and dizziness, as well as a rating of 30 percent for hearing loss. Service connection for back disability is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, a deviated nasal septum, peripheral vascular disease, and vertigo. The conditions were not found to be related to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA TBI examination to determine the nature and etiology of his head injury residuals, including headaches, blackouts, lightheadedness, dizziness, and vertigo.

All issues related to service connection have been granted. The Veteran's cluster headaches are rated at 50% effective October 1, 2010.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the reduction of the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 30% to 10%, as it is rendered moot by the AMC's May 2016 rating decision restoring the Veteran's original 30% disability rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral leg disability (due to a non-service-connected back disability), headaches, and vertigo as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active service.,The Veteran reported intermittent back pain during service but x-rays did not show any underlying pathology. No diagnosis was made at separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, skin cancer of the head, back, and face, knot on left shin, and Meniere's disease and/or vertigo (secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus).

The case is being remanded for further development due to the need to address pending appeals related to TBI, vertigo, and hearing loss. The PTSD rating issue will be reconsidered after these other issues are resolved.

The Veteran's BPPV is due to his service-connected right ankle and knee, which gave way during a fall. The Board finds that the Veteran's testimony regarding the cause of his BPPV has some tendency to make a nexus more likely than not.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of entitlement to service connection for migraines and vertigo prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability and determine the current severity of his service-connected TBI with headaches and vertigo.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is rated at 100% effective July 19, 2013. His hearing loss and tinnitus are separately evaluated.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to September 17, 2010. He also seeks service connection for vertigo. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis has been granted, and her claim for service connection for vertigo caused or aggravated by her service-connected recurrent invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examination and determine the appropriate rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and loss of balance/dizziness. The examiner will assess whether he has Meniere's syndrome or a separate vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent for memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions. He also has a separate rating of 30 percent for vertigo associated with the TBI. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of Meniere's disease and determined that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely attributable to his service-connected otitis media and peripheral vestibular disorder.