Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for Meniere’s Disease, lower back disorder to include lumbar spondylosis and HNP, hypertension, and PTSD are all granted. The effective date is set at January 22, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has found the VA examination insufficient for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo, thus remanding these issues.

The appeal for a compensable disability rating for right inguinal hernia was dismissed. The claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral flat feet, and ear disability were remanded.

The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, and vertigo have been reopened. Service connection is granted for the lumbar spine disorder and vertigo but denied for the right hip disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including Meniere's syndrome, edema of the bilateral upper extremities, hepatitis C, trichinosis, dermatitis of the fingernails, and short-term memory loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including skin disability, numbness of fingers, vertigo, sweating condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, and joint pain. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to septic shock and urinary tract infection related to surgery for vestibular schwannoma, which was not linked to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of TBI and a headache disability are granted. The Board found that the current residuals of TBI were attributable to in-service events, and his post-concussive headaches were incurred during active service.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere’s disease, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Meniere’s disease is not related to his service-connected tinnitus or psychiatric disability.,The Board also denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, concluding that there was no relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The left hip sprain claim is remanded as an examination report was inadequate, while other claims are remanded for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's vertigo is remanded for further development as no VA examination has been conducted to determine if her current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post-surgery is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the entire appeal period. The Veteran’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hypertension are denied evaluations greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) and unspecified anxiety disorder with other specified insomnia are denied evaluations greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the issues of a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic vertigo, an effective date prior to November 4, 2016, for PTSD, a compensable rate for left ear hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and recurrent tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for Meniere’s disease with hearing loss and vertigo is denied. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding a TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for right ear hearing loss. The Board has remanded the remaining issues: left chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma, bipolar disorder, vertigo, TBI, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heat stroke, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), scar, status post left knee injury, recurrent tinnitus, residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches, and major depressive disorder with anxiety have been remanded.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for scar, status post left knee injury; recurrent tinnitus; residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches; and major depressive disorder with anxiety are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including fatigue, sinusitis, vision problems, dizziness (Meniere’s disease), and tinnitus. The VA will conduct further examinations to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional examinations.