Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his sole service-connected disability, Meniere's syndrome with left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, already grants him a 100% schedular rating. The back disorder issue is remanded for further development.

An effective date of April 26, 2019 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to February 29, 2020 for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder is denied.

An effective date of April 26, 2019 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to February 29, 2020 for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD was denied as he did not file a prior claim.,Service connection for ED, hypertension, heart disability (tachycardia), and vertigo were all denied as the conditions are not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during or is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for vertigo is also denied, as the preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that his condition warrants such a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches was granted at a 50 percent level, effective November 20, 2013. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, effective from May 20, 2019.

An effective date of April 26, 2019 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to February 29, 2020 for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions regarding his claimed conditions, specifically headaches, vertigo/dizziness, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The VA will obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has remanded three issues: earlier effective date for service connection, increased rating, and earlier effective date for special monthly compensation. The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection due to new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding increased rating for Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus, service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Meniere's syndrome is denied as not related to service.,Service connection for vertigo and anxiety are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is not manifest by hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month, with or without tinnitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and vertigo are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and ear infections due to Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The main issues are related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, and various other conditions such as right shoulder degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine strain, hip strains, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), positional vertigo, coccydynia, knee patellar tendonitis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being considered for their impact on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and/or acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 28, 2015. Therefore, the claim for SMC based on housebound status is granted as of that date.