Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions, including IBS and anxiety disorder. The RO granted service connection for IBS but denied all other claims. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of IBS and determine the relationship between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher staged ratings for his low back strain with degenerative disc disease and service connection for Meniere's disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor, and the Board finds that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrial fibrillation, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, GERD, wrist and shoulder disabilities, and vertigo have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo associated with hearing loss is manifested by occasional dizziness and occasional staggering, which meets the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating under DC 6204.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a vestibular disorder (claimed as vertigo) is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of aggravation by other disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of March 3, 2015. This decision was based on evidence showing the Veteran could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in a need for higher level of care, including aid and attendance. The Board granted the claim for SMC based on the need for such care.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's vertigo is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available. The sinusitis with headaches are currently rated at 10 percent and a separate compensable rating for headaches is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo/equilibrium and dizziness, as well as his claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and is considering multiple other claims, including those related to sleep apnea, Peyronie's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a chronic disability related to pre-diabetes and hyperglycemia. The Veteran has not met the criteria for service connection in all cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for plantar warts, malaria, presbyopia, vertigo, and TBI. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or recent recurrence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but his peripheral vertigo is not. The Veteran will need to undergo a new examination for his dizziness.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the previously denied claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, depression, hernia and vertigo. The appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's vertigo and Ménire's syndrome are granted service connection. The effective dates for the low back disability and adjustment disorder are denied, as is a compensable evaluation for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that there is no direct relationship between his active duty service and his current disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's vertigo was not caused or made worse by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims. The AOJ will consider all evidence received since the last Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC) in conjunction with prior evidence.

The Veteran's TBI was not manifested by cognitive, emotion/behavioral and physical impairment consistent with a compensable rating before January 17, 2012.,As of January 17, 2012, the Veteran's TBI is manifested by mild memory loss. A separate 10 percent rating for vertigo as a residual of TBI has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim of an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with a 100% rating.