Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis, TMJ, and vertigo are related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis, TMJ, and vertigo.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder (DJD) and migraine headaches, but denied the Veteran's claims for other conditions. The left knee DJD was found to be related to service due to its onset within one year of retirement from service. Migraine headaches were also found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder and low back disorder are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his in-service concussion injury.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for migraine headaches is also being remanded due to incomplete records from his former employer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for vertigo remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo and denied service connection for skin cancer and actinic keratosis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection was not granted for skin cancer or actinic keratosis due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran likely suffered from peripheral vestibular disorder symptoms during service and that he has been diagnosed with a peripheral vestibular disorder post-service based on similar symptoms. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's condition had its onset in service, thus granting service connection for his peripheral vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression and anxiety, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression and anxiety, is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability manifested by dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and fluctuations in hearing levels (to include Meniere's disease) is service connected based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's right foot drop is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of vertigo remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's current vertigo and disorientation were not manifested in service, are not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was reduced to a noncompensable rating effective April 16, 2013. The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder has been rated at 10 percent since May 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a determination of whether his accident in service was in the line of duty and an examination to assess any current neurological disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional information regarding his employment as a consultant to determine if it qualifies as marginal employment, which could affect the determination of TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all remaining issues, including those related to Meniere's disease, bilateral hearing loss, and Reiter's syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for sinusitis and pansinusitis, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6510. A separate 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis was granted effective December 8, 2015.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder has resulted in dizziness and occasional staggering, warranting an initial 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple secondary service connection claims for various conditions, including CLL and diabetes. The Board has ordered additional development to address the sufficiency of evidence regarding these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection. The claim for service connection for vertigo is therefore denied.