Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's left ear otitis media and externa, as well as outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and otalgia, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's in-service treatment records did not show diagnoses, complaints, or symptoms of vertigo or otalgia.,The Board also denied service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy (sciatic nerve), concluding that there is no evidence linking this condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional examinations due to difficulties in scheduling VA examinations in China, and the need to reinvestigate the evidence related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been remanded due to procedural issues with the initial claim of service connection for sleep apnea, as well as insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his dizziness and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for prostatitis, vertigo, left shoulder disorder, right CTS, and left CTS have all been denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, a liver condition, and a vertigo/equilibrium condition due to incomplete records from a naturopathic provider in Hawaii. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error exists for the Veteran's claim of service connection for Meniere's disease due to inadequate VA opinions addressing the claim. The case is being remanded for further development and supplemental opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a disability manifested by dizziness or vertigo have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's GERD/hiatal hernia with erosive gastritis is rated at 30 percent, but no more, since May 31, 2013.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the right thumb scar is granted.

The Board previously denied a separate disability rating for Meniere's disease or other peripheral vestibular disorder associated with service-connected chronic suppurative otitis media. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has ordered the Board to remand this issue due to an error in considering whether VA satisfied its duty to assist.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the VA to obtain and consider audiometric results from February 26, 2019 and September 17, 2020 VA audiology consults. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for vertigo/dizziness and severe patulous eustachian tube dysfunction, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion and notification letter. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for valvular heart disease and a vestibular condition (dizziness) as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. The VA is instructed to schedule examinations and obtain opinions regarding causation and aggravation of these conditions by the service-connected CAD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of Meniere's Syndrome as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will gather more information and may grant or deny the claims based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, Meniere's disease, and left leg disability (sciatica) are all being addressed.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection for a neck / cervical spine disability, hypertension, and Vertigo / Meniere's Syndrome disabilities. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including anxiety and depression, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, vertigo, sleeping disorder (including sleep apnea), and Meniere's syndrome. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain records from University of Western States chiropractic school in Portland, Oregon.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) before the Board could make a decision.