Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's vertigo and dizziness.

The Veteran's total combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues include service connection claims and an evaluation for hepatitis A.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in the June 2016 VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's central vertigo, diagnosed as a result of cerebral atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus type II, is not caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. As such, service connection for vertigo cannot be granted.

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

The Veteran's inner ear disorder, including vertigo and dizziness, is found to be caused by his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether there is a current inner ear disorder manifested by vertigo and dizziness that is related to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA medical examination and updating the Veteran's address in the system. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's metastatic malignant melanoma and Meniere's disease. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including a claim for increased ratings for his service-connected right ear hearing loss and residuals of mastoidectomy, as well as a claim for a compensable rating for multiple noncompensable disabilities. The case is being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinions regarding the Veteran's ear disability claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for BPPV, entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, an effective date earlier than April 18, 2014, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; left acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma; eye disorder (including diabetic retinopathy); neuropathy; a disorder manifested by numbness of the hands; erectile dysfunction; and hypertension. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the issues can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's vertigo and migraine headaches were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claims for service connection as well as secondary service connection.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including as secondary to his service-connected right parotid adenocarcinoma. The rating assigned was a temporary 100% disability rating effective March 12, 1985.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 27, 2006 for the award of a 30 percent rating for service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, vertigo, degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, right knee with chondromalacia, left knee with chondromalacia, and right shoulder, status-post acromioclavicular separation have been rated based on their current severity.,No further rating increases are warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the examination reports and lack of consideration of certain evidence.