Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's Disease, finding that the condition is not etiologically related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,For issues related to peripheral neuropathy and coronary artery disease, additional evidence is needed as they are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, dementia due to other general medical conditions, vertigo, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left ear tinnitus, prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected GERD, diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, and vertigo. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for GERD or diabetes mellitus, but the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and vertigo are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board also found that the current disability does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, chronic otitis externa, diabetes mellitus type II, colon polyps, residuals of a neck tumor excision, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. The issues are related to new evidence that reopened these claims.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 60 percent for Meniere's disease with peripheral vestibular disorder, finding the Veteran's assertions regarding the frequency of his symptoms to be less credible.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for vertigo was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the thresholds for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, and there is no evidence to support service connection for his vertigo.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. Specifically, OSA is being remanded for a VA examination, while hearing loss and tinnitus require additional addendums from VA audiologists, and vestibular disorder requires an addendum from a VA ear specialist.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The case for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome with tinnitus and left ear hearing loss was rated at 60 percent for the period starting September 1, 2012 and ending July 14, 2015. The Board granted a rating of 100 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's Meniere’s disease is rated at 100% effective August 30, 2017. This rating entitles the Veteran to SMC based on housebound criteria and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere’s syndrome and the cause of death due to intracranial hemorrhage, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's Meniere’s disease and his military service. The Veteran needs to provide more medical records, especially from VA and private providers, and undergo a medical examination to determine if his symptoms are related to his time in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition as secondary to his service-connected Meniere’s disease, finding that the current back condition was aggravated by his service-connected Meniere’s disease.

The Veteran's right knee pain is found to be secondary to his service-connected pes planus.,His vertigo is found to be secondary to his service-connected TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometry results and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to sinusitis, but denied service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, but the examiner did not address chronic otitis media, otitis externa, peripheral vestibular disorder, Meniere’s syndrome, or a perforated tympanic membrane. The Board finds that its remand instructions were not substantially complied with and thus requires further medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for Meniere’s disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development.