Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that additional development is needed. The issues include a rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder, a compensable rating for post-operative right tympanoplasty for perforated right tympanic membrane, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, vertigo, GERD, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dizziness and vertigo are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's unspecified cognitive disorder, which arose after and as a result of his March 2017 brain surgery, is granted compensation under the provisions of 38?U.S.C. �?1151.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA). The claims for service connection for vertigo, tinnitus, and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating based on convalescence due to ingrown toenail surgery and remanded her claims for a compensable rating for night blindness and service connection for vertigo.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo. The Veteran's current disability, vertigo, was shown during service or within a presumptive period, and subsequent manifestations were noted without any intercurrent causes. Therefore, the Veteran's vertigo is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, claimed as dizziness, is related to service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and requesting an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to assess his service-connected back disability, sciatica, respiratory disorder other than obstructive sleep apnea or rhinitis (claimed as bronchitis), and Meniere's Syndrome. The claims are being remanded for these evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo due to lack of a clear opinion on its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Meniere's disease, finding that the Veteran does not have these conditions during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act.,The Veteran's thyroid condition (claimed as a thyroid tumor) is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus, to include as due to claimed left ear hearing loss and/or Meniere's disease, is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's Meniere's disease is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his respiratory and cardiac disabilities, which may be related to exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection for bilateral upper and lower neuropathy, a vestibular disorder, erectile dysfunction, constipation, and dry mouth are also inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's current BPPV is related to service, including his in-service noise exposure and post-service symptoms. The issue also includes consideration of whether it is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board has dismissed service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and has remanded the issue of service connection for vertigo.