Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and his claim for service connection for Meniere's Disease is remanded due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo and benign prostatic hypertrophy due to exposure to herbicide agents, as well as an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo further examination to determine the nature and severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA spine examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the claimed back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, or if they were caused by the September 2000 tympanoplasty and post-operative care. The Veteran is asked to provide a statement about the nature of his disabilities and for a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed vertigo and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of Meniere’s Syndrome, finding that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to January 20, 2012 and thus no effective date can be granted before then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Meniere’s syndrome, right hip bursitis, right knee condition, back condition, and left lower extremity neuropathy with residuals to allow for further evaluation by VA examiners.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for vertigo due to multiple medications, including as secondary to anthrax vaccine, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and issues of new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, vertigo, headaches, and recurrent urinary tract infections are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for vertigo, claimed as loss of balance, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced recurrent symptoms of vertigo since his separation from service to the present and determined it was incurred in service due to a frostbite injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a stroke, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a disability claimed as residuals of a stroke, and service connection for MdDS are inextricably intertwined with his claim of service connection for GAD. The Board has also determined that the Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with all other claims.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding service connection for tinnitus, as the December 2019 VA examiner did not provide such an opinion.

The Board denied an increased rating for Meniere’s disease prior to March 20, 2018, as the Veteran did not have a cerebellar gait that would warrant a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6205.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as vertigo) is also granted, with the condition considered secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to otitis media, but denied service connection for ancient schwannoma and TDIU prior to April 25, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right shoulder disabilities, low back disorder, multiple joint pain, diabetes mellitus type II, residuals of a head injury (TBI), and vertigo. The reasons were that the Veteran did not have evidence of these conditions during or immediately after military service, and there was no clear connection to service.

The Board denied service connection for dizziness, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that the Veteran's benign positional vertigo is not a MUCMI and denying direct service connection.

Service connection for vestibular disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to military sexual trauma is granted, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.