Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for Meniere’s disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for Vitamin D deficiency is denied because it is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Periodontal disease (gingivitis) is not considered a compensable disability, and the Veteran's claim must be denied.,The Veteran's vertigo is rated as 10 percent disabling based on occasional dizziness. A higher rating of 30 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence of staggering.,Tinnitus in the left ear is currently assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's exercise-induced asthma does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating based on his PFT results and medication use.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is rated as noncompensable due to lack of specific diagnostic codes, with GERD being rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 7399-7346.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim, specifically related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Meniere's syndrome, and aural fullness is granted. The Board found that the new evidence presented raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 60 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for Meniere’s disease is remanded due to possible secondary nature of symptoms related to his hearing disability.,TDIU is granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for Meniere’s disease and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, sinus disorder, respiratory disorder, heart disorder, stomach disorder, eye disorder, and vertigo/TBI residuals, have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability in question.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence not being required, as previous decisions were not final. The claims are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder), a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, COPD and chronic bronchitis, migraine headaches, right elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ear hearing loss, intermittent vertigo, intermittent hand tremors, and intermittent blackouts. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed stressors or a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all related issues.

The Veteran's vertigo is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral vascular disorder/vertigo is rated at a maximum of 30 percent, effective throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board dismissed all previously appealed claims due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for otitis media and denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for Meniere's disease prior to March 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, dizziness with headaches, and Meniere’s disease were denied as these conditions are not related to his active duty service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records from Afghanistan and provide him with a VA examination regarding his claimed disabilities, including back pain, shortness of breath, fatigue/sleep disorder, chest pain, hypertension, heartburn, low testosterone, skin rashes, migraines/nausea/vertigo, and memory loss. The examiner must consider the Veteran's exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for vertigo, neck disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, jaw disorder, and headaches due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or prior to the pendency of the claim.