Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The Veteran will need a VA examination from a specialist to determine if his current vertigo and/or Meniere's Syndrome are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is required to protect her from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment. As a result, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, and the Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating. The claims for vertigo, headaches (secondary to vertigo), and rhinitis have been remanded due to insufficient development or evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease/syndrome, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his active service and this condition. The Board also found that it was less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vertigo, sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to issues with substantial compliance with its previous orders.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, otitis media, and a peripheral vestibular disorder. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, and bilateral upper extremity nerve impairment were granted with reopening of the latter two.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for TBI, memory loss condition, and vertigo due to the lack of a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with an appropriate examiner.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease, finding that his conditions are related to his military service. The claim for service connection for mononucleosis is remanded due to a lack of VA examination or opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart condition, characterized by a 'racing heartbeat,' is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected Meniere's disease. The decision also notes that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric condition related to his Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for TBI, vertigo, and related disabilities are inextricably intertwined with his claims for back disability and radiculopathies or neuropathies of the lower and upper extremities. Therefore, these issues have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for vertigo, including secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's vertigo is currently diagnosed as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), but it may also be related to other conditions such as hypoglycemia or orthostatic hypotension. More medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability aggravates his vertigo.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a vestibular disorder, dizziness, and fainting as there is no evidence of a current disability arising from an in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's vestibular disorder, including Meniere's syndrome, was rated at 30 percent prior to May 25, 2010.,From May 26, 2010, to May 11, 2021, the Veteran's disability rating was increased to 60 percent.,Effective from May 12, 2021, the Veteran is now rated at 100 percent for his vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, sleep apnea, diabetes, headaches, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, should be remanded due to inadequate explanation of the reasons for assigning significant probative weight to the October 2019 VA opinion.

The Veteran's benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo is found to have been incurred during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo and migraines due to lack of an opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to a head injury during service, and because additional VA treatment records need to be considered.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo, headaches, and hypertension due to PTSD. The claims are being remanded because there were deficiencies in the post-remand development of these claims.