Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and chronic recurring headaches, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

Service connection is granted for right knee condition, back condition, left lower extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability.,Service connection is denied for left knee condition. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue during the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo (also claimed as dizziness) and denied an increased rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a neck fusion resulting from VA medical care was denied as the most probative evidence did not support that the treatment caused the additional disability.,For service connection of vertigo, the remand order instructed to provide an opinion based on conflicting medical evidence and review of the August 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of heat stroke, hypertension, epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, lower extremity edema (including spider veins), headaches, and neurological effects have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, finding that it began during or shortly after service and continues to this day. Service connection was denied for left eye cataracts and other bilateral eye disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for a low back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), and fibromyalgia. The claim for service connection for vertigo was denied, and the claim for bilateral hip disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for vertigo, nosebleeds, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's vertigo, which may be associated with his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current vestibular disorder is related to his in-service reports of dizziness and fainting spells. The case will be reviewed by a VA examiner who must consider the Veteran's relevant medical history, including his service records.

The Board has granted the claim for secondary service connection for a peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as vertigo) to be related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's dizziness, vertigo, and labyrinthitis are found to be related to service. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not related to service. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's vertigo is secondary to his service-connected disabilities for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's vertigo is related to his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo, COPD, and a skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. A VA examination is required for each claim.

The claim for service connection for Meniere's disease/syndrome (peripheral vestibular disorder) as secondary to service-connected hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo was found to not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent prior to December 1, 2014. The claim for total disability due to individual unemployability prior to December 1, 2014 was dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's low back, bilateral leg, groin, migraine headaches, and dizzy spells, vertigo, and Meniere's syndrome claims are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a previous decision being vacated and remanded by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Specifically, the BPPV rating is still in dispute as the Veteran's wife used the term 'staggering' which may be related to dizziness. The TDIU issue was also remanded but will be deferred until further evidence can make the Veteran eligible for schedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's syndrome is granted a 100% disability rating effective October 10, 2001. The separate ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are discontinued.