Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including evaluations and opinions regarding the Veteran's TBI, psychiatric disorders, ischemic heart disease, hearing loss, respiratory disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to unclear diagnoses and etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including Meniere's disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for Meniere's disease, sinusitis/rhinitis, tinnitus, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience since December 6, 2019. The Board found that the evidence showed significant functional impairment due to vertigo and headache disabilities which likely precluded him from obtaining or maintaining such employment.

Your appeals for service connection for Meniere's disease, vertigo, and TDIU have been dismissed as your legacy appeal has been withdrawn due to timely opting into the modernized appeals process under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo and CLL, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. For vertigo, it was determined that the acoustic trauma from using pneumatic tools in enclosed spaces during service caused the condition. For CLL, exposure to carcinogens including benzene during service is considered a factor.

The Veteran's vertigo is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and head injury, granting service connection for vertigo.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The ear disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is rated at a maximum of 30 percent, and the appeal for competency to handle VA funds was denied.

The Veteran's right vestibular dysfunction is granted as a result of his treatment for Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) infections, which were caused by the IV catheter and antibiotics provided by VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination results and need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's dizziness is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for vertigo, including as secondary to service-connected hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if a timely Notice of Disagreement was filed with the February 2016 rating decision regarding the Veteran's service-connected non-specific chronic dizziness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and sinusitis due to new examinations being necessary.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Meniere's disease, entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 18, 2022, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to March 18, 2022.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU. The Veteran's pre-existing benign paroxysmal vertigo was not aggravated by his military service, and there is no evidence of a significant threshold shift in his hearing during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and a peripheral vestibular disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ulcerative colitis/proctitis, hypertension, bronchitis or sinus disorder, and vertigo due to potential issues with evidence submission and examination scheduling.