Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for bladder cancer is granted. The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is granted a 30% disability rating effective October 7, 2019. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted an initial compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, vertigo, and stroke due to deficiencies in prior development and need for additional examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing private treatment records. The Veteran's vertigo is currently diagnosed, but a new opinion is needed regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for PTSD and TBI are both denied. Service connection for vertigo has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of balance and dizziness/vertigo were denied. The Board found that these symptoms were manifestations of nonservice-connected Parkinson’s disease, not separate disabilities. Service connection was granted for TBI with persistent depressive disorder and a neurocognitive disorder from March 9, 2018, but no earlier, resulting in a 100% rating. Separate noncompensable ratings were assigned for perforated tympanic membranes of the right and left ears throughout the appeal period. SMC at the housebound rate was granted starting from March 9, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset during his active duty and was not related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for Meniere’s syndrome, concluding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service or to his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of vertigo, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for pseudophakia, otitis externa, and vertigo due to inadequate examination reports. The issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral perforation of tympanic membrane remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder and vertigo due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for Meniere’s syndrome has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, balance problems and vertigo, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and COPD due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting evidence. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its May 2019 remand directives and thus requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's vestibular system disorder starting from February 1, 2019. The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a left shoulder disability due to incomplete VA examinations, lack of service treatment records, and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's Disease, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's initial 60 percent rating for Meniere's disease is granted effective prior to December 19, 2019.,An initial 30 percent rating for GERD is granted effective December 19, 2019. The Veteran’s service-connected left knee strain receives an initial 20 percent rating effective the same date. An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and inguinal hernia status-post surgical repair are denied.,The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease is manifested by hearing impairment with vertigo more than once weekly, warranting a 60 percent rating prior to December 19, 2019. GERD symptoms include persistently recurrent epigastric distress, reflux, regurgitation, substernal pain, and nausea, leading to a 30 percent rating effective December 19, 2019.,Left knee strain is manifested by frequent episodes of joint locking and joint pain, resulting in a 20 percent rating effective December 19, 2019. Allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not result in greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides.,The Veteran's inguinal hernia is not manifested by any compensable disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss with vertigo is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether he has ever had symptoms or a diagnosis of Meniere’s syndrome and clarity regarding the severity of his current symptoms.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, but his vertigo is not.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. Service connection for vertigo was denied.