Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's hearing was within normal limits at separation, but conversion of audiometric data is required.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for genital warts was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence, thus denying the reopening of this claim. Other claims were remanded due to insufficient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral peripheral vestibular disorder and vertigo. An additional VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as vertigo. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, blood clots of bilateral lower extremities, dizziness (vertigo), and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation as a ground radio operator during service. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo (dizziness), and right foot disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to provide a nexus opinion regarding these conditions.

Service connection for GERD is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for vertigo and balance disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent for service-connected headaches, and 10 percent for vertigo have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea have all been denied.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, femoral radulopathy, and sleep apnea have all been denied.,The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy prior to May 27, 2021, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter has been remanded.,The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radulopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cyst on back, heart disability, vertigo, and cranial hemorrhage are being remanded due to incomplete VA medical opinions.,Additional evidence is needed from the Veteran regarding his treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of potentially favorable evidence related to the Veteran's claim, including a November 4, 2012 emergency department note and July 31, 2012 neurology note. The Veteran is service connected for residuals of a stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy, all due to his exposure to hexavalent chromium in the Navy.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's dizziness had its onset in service. The claim was denied on a secondary basis due to lack of documentation showing vertigo symptoms during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for vertigo and hypertension are denied due to lack of current disability. Residuals of stroke are remanded.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of right ear vestibular schwannoma as it was not on appeal, and the Veteran's hearing loss claim has been resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's disease had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review due to a previous denial and the need for additional development. The main issue is whether he should receive an extraschedular rating for his left ankle disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder, back disorder, frostbite residuals of the hands and feet, and vertigo.,There is no indication that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his service connection claim for vertigo is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for vertigo as secondary to service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus due to inadequate examinations in January 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically from providers listed on two of the Veteran's forms for medical information. The claim will be returned to obtain these records.