Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The claim for Meniere’s disease secondary to service-connected tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's TBI was granted, and the effective date is September 26, 2007.,Tinnitus has a maximum rating of 10 percent, which is already assigned. No higher ratings are available.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness and vertigo, but denied service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current dizziness/vertigo is related to his military service, while the low back disability is not.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and CAD, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or asbestos exposure. Service connection was granted for a peripheral vestibular disorder associated with his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and conflicting medical opinions. The issues include labyrinthitis with vestibular dysfunction, lumbar strain with sacroiliac pain, right leg arterial insufficiency secondary to diabetes mellitus, hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea secondary to diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, and diabetic retinopathy secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether Meniere’s disease had its clinical onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including acoustic trauma; in-service symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness; and/or environmental exposures in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of vertigo and/or staggering, nor did he during the appeal period. The claim for service connection is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as level II in both ears at all relevant points in time, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere’s disease, vertigo, and a bilateral lower leg/foot disorder. The claim for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and determine if vertigo and headaches are related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a laceration scar of the anterior neck. The right knee, TBI, and related issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for Meniere's disease/vertigo and effective date claims related to peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and cardiomyopathy. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for vertigo.

The Veteran's heart disability, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for right eye disability, tinnitus, vertigo, gastric ulcer disease and chronic reflux esophagitis, cellulitis of the left lower extremity are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding service connection for vertigo and hypertension, as well as the rating for hypertension.

The appeal on the issue of service connection for memory loss has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination regarding increased rating for left knee condition and service connection for dizziness.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are rated at a combined 60 percent effective September 2, 2005. The Board also granted TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include vertigo/dizziness/poor balance, residuals of cold injury of the hands, residuals of cold injury of the feet, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and active duty service. The Veteran needs to be examined by a VA examiner for each of his six claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's deviated nasal septum is granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The issue of increased rating for sinusitis is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. Paroxysmal positional vertigo (Meniere’s disease) is remanded for further evaluation.