Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection to vertigo due to tinnitus and military noise exposure has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has referred the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a perforated eardrum with related vertigo on an extraschedular basis to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

An effective date of October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a right foot disorder is granted.,An effective date prior to October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a left foot disorder is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of service connection for Meniere's syndrome associated with bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and complications. The specific issues are: skin disorder, blisters on head and hands, vertigo, left thumb tendon/punji stick wound residual, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability due to surgeries.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo due to the appellant's dishonorable discharge from active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric disorders and other conditions. The main reasons are that VA examiners have not provided sufficient opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board denied an effective date prior to May 18, 2016 for a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The Veteran's claim was granted in June 2016, but the effective date was set at May 18, 2016 based on findings from her VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for vertigo, which he claims was caused by a head injury during his military service. The Board finds that the Veteran has credible reports of dizziness during and since service but lacks an adequate medical opinion linking these symptoms to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew her claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of vertigo.

The Veteran's initial rating for TBI prior to April 28, 2016 was denied. A total rating of 100 percent is granted effective from April 28, 2016. The earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo as well as service connection for residuals of TBI are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's vertigo and its relation to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a peripheral vestibular disorder, including vertigo.

The Board has granted service connection for an aneurysm, right eye disability, vertigo, post-surgical scars of the right neck, right temple, and right thigh, and bilateral arm tremors as secondary to a service-connected aneurysm. Service connection is denied for cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied. The claim for asthma is also denied. A rating of 30 percent for vertigo is granted, effective from the date of grant of service connection. An initial rating of 10 percent for migraines is granted.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral knees, shoulders, gout, dizziness (vertigo), sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, hepatitis B, and residuals of a shrapnel wound. The AOJ is instructed to make appropriate requests to the SSA for records concerning the Veteran and to obtain clinical records from his in-service hospitalization.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spondylosis. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination regarding brain demyelination, hearing loss, numbness and pain claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right arms, increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled examinations. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo were not found to be related to service or any in-service injury.,A compensable rating for left eye scar was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 10% evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including sleep apnea, glaucoma, cataracts and presbyopia, orthostatic dizziness (vertigo), hypertension, and acid reflux. The claims are also being remanded for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's vestibular disorder is granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective May 6, 2014. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating since May 6, 2014.