Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records. The issues include TBI, urinary condition, vertigo, GERD, skin disability of the arms, acquired psychiatric disability, ED, hypertension, migraines, prostate condition, and third digit of the right hand disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease, and a back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

All increased rating and earlier effective date claims have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 22, 2007. The claims for tinnitus and dizziness/vertigo including Meniere's disease, as well as the increased rating for left shoulder disability, are being remanded due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

Your claim for service connection for Meniere’s disease has been fully granted, and you are now entitled to a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere’s disease due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment of these conditions during service, but he contends they are related to noise exposure while serving aboard a naval vessel.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at zero percent (noncompensable) since June 2016. The Board found that separate ratings for hearing loss under Diagnostic Code 6100 and Meniere’s disease under Diagnostic Code 6205 are prohibited, as the note following Diagnostic Code 6205 prohibits combining an evaluation for hearing impairment with an evaluation under DC 6205.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left eye diplopia and TDIU on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the current 40 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability, as it accounted for interference with employment due to loss of pilot and state trooper positions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports and failure to address certain issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development, including missing audiograms and lack of an otolaryngologist examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, vertigo, and Barrett's Esophagus as secondary to a service-connected disability due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Peripheral Vestibular Disorder, Hypertension, Gout (swelling in the joints), Headache Disability, and Coronary Artery Disease due to inadequate examinations and insufficient rationale provided by VA examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere’s disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as they are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo, including as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus, and entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to his in-service diagnosis of viral dizziness syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's vertigo, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive, and a new examination is required to address the service connection claim for vertigo.

The appellant withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for atrial fibrillation, benign positional vertigo, tinnitus, allergies, and depression and anxiety. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board denied service connection for a vestibular disorder as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's Meniere’s Disease was not incurred in or due to his time in service, and the claim is denied.,The Veteran does not have hearing loss in his left ear for VA purposes, and the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Tinnitus was incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service, and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disease, diabetes, neuropathy in bilateral upper and lower extremities, Meniere's syndrome, and sleep apnea are all granted due to the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during his Vietnam service. The Board found that these conditions were related to his Agent Orange exposure and hypertension.