Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2019

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is rated at 30 percent since January 10, 2011.,The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome (previously evaluated as left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral vestibular disorder) is rated at 100 percent since January 27, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, sleep apnea, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease have been granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been withdrawn.,His low back disability claim was reopened due to new evidence showing degenerative disc disease and arthritis. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is denied for a jaw disability, as there is no indication of an injury related to service.,Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disabilities, as the Veteran did not report any injuries during service that could be linked to his current conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for right ear hearing loss disability. The claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, Meniere's disease, and left ear hearing loss disability are remanded due to additional VA records needing to be obtained and further examination required. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine is also remanded.

The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. Headaches are not productive of prostrating attacks and do not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for left knee strain and right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or related to service. The Veteran's current right knee disability is remanded due to the lack of a diagnosis in the medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear drum damage and vertigo due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The case will be returned to VA for further development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board is remanding to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on updated evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and dizzy spells/vertigo due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's exposure to pesticides in Korea is being investigated further.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was previously denied, but new evidence has been submitted raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct an examination by a neurology clinician to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is related to service or service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's vertigo, sinus infection, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and voiding dysfunction are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's jaw disorder and vertigo are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors in the determination.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than April 29, 2014 for the grant of service connection for traumatic painful scars of the right index finger and thumb. The Board has determined that this claim was not filed prior to January 23, 2013.,The Veteran is also seeking TDIU since August 22, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is granted as a residual of his TBI. The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, vertigo, and stroke due to insufficient development. Additional evidence is needed including records of a 1980 hospitalization for stroke.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Meniere’s syndrome is denied as his claim to reopen was received on November 8, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to CUE in previous decisions regarding service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for a left toe injury. The appeal is now REMANDED for further action on issues of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding her vertigo and hearing loss, as new examinations are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a neck condition due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the Board's failure to consider it prior to August 16, 2015. The case will be reconsidered along with other pending claims.