Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the service connection claim for vertigo, to include epilepsy, as the Veteran requested withdrawal of this issue prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic breathing issues and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current BPPV disability, and therefore, the requirements for service connection, direct or secondary, are not met.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including Meniere's syndrome, and for bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's ear condition and its relationship to active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been withdrawn by her authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, specially adapted housing, and a special home adaptation grant has been denied due to lack of evidence showing loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, blindness in both eyes, loss of use of one lower extremity with residual organic disease or injury affecting balance or propulsion, loss or use of one lower extremity with loss or use of one upper extremity affecting balance and propulsion, loss or use of both upper extremities to preclude use of arms at or above the elbow, or full thickness or subdermal burns. The Veteran's disabilities are not related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease is currently rated at 60 percent prior to September 2, 2021. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period and has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease, with the latter being related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for Meniere's disease with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The effective date of the award was December 13, 2017.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as service-connected. An initial compensable rating for the abdominal scar is denied, but a separate 10 percent rating for painful scar as of February 8, 2022, is granted. Service connection for dyspnea (claimed as asthma), right shoulder condition, bilateral pes planus, left knee condition, and right ankle condition are all remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it is due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome or endolymphatis hydrops is granted a 60 percent evaluation from February 22, 2017 on. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for the condition is remanded. A TDIU prior to August 15, 2018 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, bilateral eye disorder (cataracts), vertigo, and urinary incontinence due to potential service connection based on in-service chemical exposure. The VA will attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported exposure events and obtain medical opinions addressing the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has found that further development is required due to the inadequacy of the November 2017 VA examination and the need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and respiratory disability due to insufficient examinations and opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headache condition, dermatitis, and vertigo due to incomplete development of her STRs and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinus and ear conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease. The compensable rating for his hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD and peripheral vestibular disorder due to insufficient opinions regarding causation or aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral median nerve neuropathy, digestive and/or gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and a left ear disorder (vertigo) as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.