Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2016

The Veteran's tinnitus and related symptoms, including vertigo and hearing loss, are found to be related to her service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for vertigo and granted it. The claims of service connection for a back disability, otitis media, and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them at his hearing. Posttraumatic stress disorder with dysthymia is found to be incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and further review is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has current Meniere's disease that is related to active military service. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 22, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter, entitlement to TDIU prior to May 22, 2013, and SMC at the housebound rate are remanded.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a vestibular disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lung condition, vertigo, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and heart condition are inextricably intertwined with other claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing, as the Veteran requested one but no such hearing was scheduled. The claims related to diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are being reopened due to new evidence.

The Board finds that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether vertigo is etiologically related to a motor vehicle accident in service. After affording the benefit of the doubt, the criteria for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by dizziness and vertigo have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction due to incomplete adjudication and need for additional evidence. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to his Vietnam-era service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition. For the other issues, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension, additional evidence is needed as they are not clearly related to service or presumptive exposure. A respiratory disability claim based on asbestos exposure will be addressed after obtaining updated medical records.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), a cervical spine disorder, and vertigo. The TBI claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Meniere's disease with associated dizziness is granted as the evidence supports a relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation is 100 percent from November 1, 1995. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, low back injury, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are also denied.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to service or his service-connected hearing loss, and therefore grants service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.