Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's current equilibrium disorder, including benign positional vertigo and orthostatic intolerance, is not related to service or his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his vertigo condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability characterized by dizziness, vertigo, and disequilibrium is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. As a result, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the Veteran, through his authorized representative, requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 100% rating for Meniere's syndrome and the need for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance and/or housebound status. The other issues were not resolved in his favor.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional attempts to obtain medical records from Walter Reed Medical Center and Branch Health Clinic.

The Board found that the Veteran's Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus was aggravated during active duty service, thus granting her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing the Veteran's claims file. The issues of service connection for ancient schwannoma and vertigo on a secondary basis are in dispute, as is the issue of TDIU prior to April 25, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, PTSD, vertigo, dyskinesia, paresthesia, a bilateral leg disorder, and spinocerebellar dysfunction are denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus to military service or service-connected diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying her claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's vertigo is considered a direct service connection as it is an organic disease of the nervous system that manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, headaches, a left ear condition, and Meniere's disease. The Veteran was not shown to have these conditions in service or due to his service-connected tinnitus.,Service connection could not be established as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 21, 2011 is denied as the evidence does not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service connection claims for mitochondrial degeneration, Meniere's disease, bilateral macular degeneration, disorders affecting the bilateral lower extremity (peroneus brevis muscular myopathy and superficial peroneal nerve neuropathy), bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy are related to his military service. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss was manifested by puretone thresholds, averaged over the frequencies of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz (Hz), of no higher than 26 decibels (dB) for the right ear and no higher than 32 dB for the left ear; the Veteran's speech recognition scores were no lower than 92 percent for each ear. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his balance problems/vertigo. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse is also being remanded due to its interrelation with the service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability manifested by vertigo, dizziness and headaches is not related to in-service anthrax vaccinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the current severity of his service-connected benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and whether he presents with symptoms of occasional staggering. The case may also be referred for consideration of entitlement to an increased rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1).