Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Veteran's Gulf War respiratory illness (chronic cough) is granted as it is directly related to his active-duty service.,Service connection for the Veteran's vestibular disorder is granted, with no specific exposure basis provided in the decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had onset during service with continuity of symptoms following service.,For his lumbosacral strain, right leg iliotibial band friction syndrome, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss claims, the Board finds remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other conditions such as right shoulder, bilateral pes planus, positional vertigo, tinnitus, right elbow, right knee, hiatal hernia, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran's representative requested to withdraw representation and there were no allegations of errors in the determination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's vertigo, claimed as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, should be remanded for further development and opinion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Meniere's syndrome, thyroid condition, and nausea is granted. Service connection is also established for TBI and neck disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence does not show an exceptional disability picture.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is rated at 100 percent, effective June 8, 2020.,Latent tuberculosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is related to service, including conceded hazardous noise exposure. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that BPPV is related to service and if there is a common etiology for the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and BPPV.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent ear disability, including peripheral vestibular disorder and recurrent chronic otitis media, is related to her service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded three issues: the rating for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, the rating for Meniere's syndrome with vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus, and the TDIU claim. The Veteran is to be provided a VA examination for each issue.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's claims, including his vertigo and back disability claims. The issues are inextricably intertwined as the outcome of these claims may significantly impact other related claims.

The Veteran's dental condition for treatment purposes is being remanded due to lack of evidence.,Service connection for the skin disability remains denied as there are no compensable conditions found. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his current symptoms warrant an increased rating.,The claim for left arm scars is inextricably intertwined with the skin disability claim and will also be remanded.,PTSD and depression claims remain pending due to insufficient evidence of service connection or exposure to Gulf War toxins.,Further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis of depression.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all pending disability compensation claims and appeals, including those related to various conditions such as posterior fossa tumor ependymoma, left wrist neuropathy, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, depressive disorder (combined with neurocognitive disorder), light-headedness, dizziness and/or vertigo, headaches, ankle sprains, scars of the head, cognitive disorder, voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is granted. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and OSA due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's low back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, PTSD, and hernia are granted. The Veteran is also granted higher ratings for PTSD and hernia from specific dates. Other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for acoustic neuroma of the left ear, and service connection for fatigue have been dismissed due to a lack of a complete VA Form 9 being received by VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus condition was dismissed as the grant of service connection in August 2022 resulted in a full grant of benefits sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also dismissed as the RO granted service connection effective December 17, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, left upper extremity neurological symptoms, right upper extremity neurological symptoms, residuals of a TBI (including vertigo and headaches), and finger disability. The claim for service connection for a finger disability is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated based on their severity, with the maximum rating for tinnitus being 10 percent. The Board has remanded cases regarding Meniere's disease (secondary to tinnitus) and TBI (secondary to PTSD with major depression).