Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for Meniere's Syndrome, but denied effective dates prior to January 1, 2008 for the grants of service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the condition is related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's TBI with insomnia disorder is rated at 40 percent effective September 1, 2016.,The Veteran's vertigo related to the service-connected TBI is rated at 10 percent effective September 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for vertigo has been dismissed as she withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and/or traumatic brain injury due to a prior November 2019 rating decision that granted this issue. The other claims of service connection were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for Meniere's disease and right ear hearing loss due to a lack of consideration of all submitted evidence, including VA Forms 21-526EZ. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is also pending.

Service connection is granted for benign positional vertigo. The Veteran's appeals on right shoulder strain, right ball joint leg strain, eye floaters, Vitamin D deficiency, hyperlipidemia, and hypercalcemia are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran. Service connection is remanded for DM, PTSD (related to vertigo), and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant's exposure to herbicide agents is not established, so a medical opinion on early-onset presumptive service connection is needed.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other condition.,Service connection was granted for depressive disorder, with the Board concluding that it is secondary to service-connected hearing loss.

Service connection is granted for left ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.,Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea and Meniere's disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's unavailability for VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to determine if his vertigo and peripheral vestibular disorder are related to service.

The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity was rated as noncompensable from November 15, 2016. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted due to mild incomplete paralysis.,Two separate 10 percent ratings were granted for meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity anterior crural (femoral) and posterior tibial nerves from February 8, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, headaches, vertigo, and tinnitus due to missing medical records and the need for VA examinations. The PACT Act is not applicable as the Veteran did not participate in toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye condition, neck disability, renal/urinary condition, peptic ulcer, right shoulder condition, headaches, right middle finger injury/deformity, short extremity/right leg condition, vertigo, and sinus problems. The evidence does not establish a current disability or show an increase in severity of any pre-existing conditions noted upon entry into service.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied as the medical evidence does not support the presence of diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for vertigo and right knee osteoarthritis need further evaluation due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Both lower extremity sciatic nerve impairments are currently rated at 10 percent, with no evidence of moderate symptoms. The Board does not find any basis for granting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his migraine headaches with vertigo, cervical spine disability, and sinus disability are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, irritability and social isolation as secondary to bilateral hearing loss, ear pain, dizziness, and vertigo as secondary to bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for dizziness/vertigo and a psychiatric disorder, both secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.