Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional VA records, including psychiatric treatment records from service and an investigation related to a 1981 assault.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, liver cancer, colon cancer, stroke residuals, heart disorder, blood clot disorder, vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The remand includes obtaining medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions in relation to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, vertigo, and ED based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is manifested by hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, entitling him to a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection with an effective date of November 28, 2017. A separate rating for OSA is denied. Service connection for migraine headaches and tinnitus were granted, while vertigo remains denied.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's claim of entitlement to SSA disability benefits is based on his service-connected conditions, and these records are necessary to properly evaluate his claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for peripheral vestibular disease and irritable bowel syndrome as the Veteran's death made the appeal moot.

The Veteran's tinea unguium, right eye disability, vertigo, polyarthralgia (fibromyalgia), CFS, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and liver condition are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for balance problems, to include Meniere's disease, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no nexus between any current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo secondary to hearing loss are granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for interstitial lung disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability and vertigo (claimed as dizziness) is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issues of whether his pre-existing conditions increased in severity during service are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current vertigo is related to service or caused by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for loss of teeth due to a final denial in March 1998. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for vertigo as secondary to TMJ disorder and/or bilateral hearing loss, requesting additional evidence and an opinion from a VA clinician.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis is granted. The petition to reopen the claim is granted to that extent only.

The Board has remanded the claims for Meniere’s disease, sinusitis, right knee disability, and right hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disability, back disability, and Meniere’s syndrome due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, vertigo as secondary to TBI, and headaches as secondary to TBI due to lack of current diagnosis of a TBI.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches is granted, and the TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the restoration of benefits due to an incarceration adjustment. The remaining claims for service connection and rating issues are remanded.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for positional vertigo, which is secondary to service-connected otitis externa, needs further examination and opinion. The case is being sent back to the RO.