Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The effective date for the grants of service connection for dizziness and vertigo, dysarthria, right upper extremity weakness, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and weakness has been set at September 16, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for Meniere's disease, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to evaluate his thigh and back disabilities as well as determine the nature and etiology of his left vestibular schwannoma/acoustic neuroma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, vertigo, knee instability, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's motion sickness needs to be further evaluated and examined by a VA clinician. The examination should address whether the condition is related to service, if it was aggravated by service or pre-existing conditions, and if it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Meniere’s disease is related to his military service, including any symptomatology therein. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a right eye injury, sleep apnea, a disorder manifested by vertigo and dizziness, cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in obtaining VA treatment records and considering certain factors related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee scar, an evaluation of 30 percent for vertigo, and an evaluation of 20 percent for two scars on the left knee and a scar on right ankle are all granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent, but no more. The claims for service connection of vertigo and a respiratory disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current inner ear disorder, diagnosed as bilateral vestibulopathy/vestibular weakness, is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's vestibular disorder has resulted in dizziness and occasional staggering throughout the period on appeal, warranting a maximum rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or substantially confine him to his home, thus SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a neurological disability and remanded the right foot disability issue.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's TBI, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating. The decision also noted that Meniere's syndrome is separate from her TBI and referred this issue to the AOJ.

The Veteran's bilateral hyperacusis with vertigo has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent. The Board found that his symptoms are specifically contemplated by the schedular criteria and thus, an extraschedular evaluation is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no further action can be taken on this matter.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and vertigo, finding new and material evidence. ,Service connection was denied as both conditions are not attributable to service.

The Board denied service connection for a perforated right ear drum and Meniere’s disease, finding no current disabilities. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence but the service connection was still denied.