Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ear disability as secondary to service-connected hearing loss in the left ear, but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right knee ACL rupture and meniscal tear due to procedural issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vestibular disorder, and right-knee disorder as the evidence did not show a nexus to active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability. The Appellant did not have any pending claims at the time of her husband's death, and she exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for a surviving spouse.

The Veteran's current neck and back disabilities are related to his military service.,The Veteran's leg weakness, blurred vision, vertigo, and breathing problems may be related to environmental hazards during his Gulf War deployment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of residuals of an anal fissure, residuals of a hernia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), genital herpes, Hepatitis B, hypertension, headaches, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and vestibular disorder have been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and BPPV have been granted. The headaches disorder claim is secondary to the service-connected conditions.,An effective date of October 8, 2015 has been assigned for all service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for low back condition, bilateral lower extremity disability, left hip disability, vestibular disability (dizziness), and headache have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including coronary artery disease/congestive heart failure, nasopharyngeal cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, eye disability, balance/vestibular disorder, sinusitis, and depressive disorder. The case will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for PVD was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. Service connection for PVD is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, vertigo, and a heart disability. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no VA examinations addressing the issue.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere’s Syndrome (dizziness), but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and medical records showing current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a dental condition was dismissed. The Veteran's initial rating claim for Meniere's disease, with hearing loss and tinnitus, is granted at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals, including related conditions such as migraines and PTSD/depression, is granted with an effective date of July 28, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims in a written statement.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence from an ENT specialist, and a new addendum opinion is needed.

The claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left knee condition, right knee condition, TMJ, urinary incontinence, hypothyroidism, and migraine headaches is granted. The effective date of the award is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for mild head injury with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and for an effective date prior to May 17, 2011 for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of Meniere's disease.