Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TBI, seizure disability secondary to TBI, vertigo secondary to TBI, Dercum’s disease, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's Meniere’s disease is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The TDIU claim has been remanded for further action.

A 10 percent rating for vertigo prior to December 31, 2014 has been granted.,Since December 31, 2014, a 30 percent rating for vertigo is granted.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as service connected, and the increased evaluation for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome, including inner ear disorder to include residuals of dizziness, is rated at 100 percent due to frequent vertigo and cerebellar gait issues occurring more than once a week.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder) is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's vertigo is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and an increased rating for residuals of fractured right index, long, ring and little fingers, to include arthritis was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal request.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, Meniere’s disease, traumatic brain injury (shrapnel in brain, right side), and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right lower extremity radiculopathy should be remanded due to incomplete development. Specifically, there is a need to obtain VA treatment records from 2016 onwards, as well as VA treatment records from the early 1970s at a VA medical facility in New York City. Additionally, an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to service, and a copy of the Statement of the Case (SOC) issued in December 2016 should be obtained.

The Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's meniere's disease is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or pathology related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's vertigo, including Meniere’s syndrome/peripheral vestibular disorder, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's vertigo symptoms presented with occasional dizziness and unsteady gait, warranting a maximum 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the July 2017 VA examination is inadequate and requires a new opinion to determine if vertigo was incurred or caused by service, specifically whether otitis externa caused episodes of dizziness during service.

The Board has decided the case needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's schwannoma is benign or malignant and whether it is related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for Meniere’s disease/vertigo and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of blurred vision, chronic back pain, an acquired psychiatric disability to include: depression, insomnia, and nightmares; diabetes, headaches, vertigo, stroke residuals, incontinence, numbness in right leg and foot (also claimed as “pain standing too long”), and numbness in right hand have been withdrawn. The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of a disorder manifested by numbness, right leg and right foot (also claimed as “pain standing too long”) and a disorder manifested by numbness, right hand are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, hemorrhoids, poor circulation in the right leg, thyroid disability (hypothyroidism), and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to service.,For heart disability, the Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from August 11, 1995 to September 17, 2014. The application to reopen the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 14, 2014. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU for this period.