Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing that his current disability began during or was aggravated by active duty. The gap in time between separation from service and initial treatment is significant, and there are no documented symptoms or diagnoses related to this condition until many years after service.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, neck disorder, and peripheral vestibular disorder due to incomplete development of records.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus was granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from December 17, 2020. The previously assigned ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were discontinued.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been rated at the maximum available rating.,For the period prior to February 8, 2018, the Veteran's migraine headaches were not productive of severe economic inadaptability. Beginning February 8, 2018, they have been rated as 50% disabling.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction has not been established.,Service connection for dyspnea has been granted.,An earlier effective date to October 12, 2015, was granted for the award of a 50% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and to October 12, 2014, for the award of a 30% rating for migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for BPPV, finding that it is not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed to have rendered him unemployable since November 2008, and the Board has referred the issue of TDIU prior to May 9, 2014, on an extraschedular basis for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for the residuals of a TBI with major depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with vertigo, as well as the claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic headaches associated with the residuals of a TBI. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo additional examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury and paroxysmal positional vertigo have been granted service connection.,Other issues, including those related to the left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory disability, chronic fatigue, hemorrhoids (secondary to IBS), insomnia (secondary to PTSD), memory loss (secondary to PTSD), and PTSD ratings, are still pending.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship of the Veteran's claimed conditions to service, including whether they are related to an undiagnosed illness or a Gulf War condition. The claims for vertigo and ankle/knee conditions are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's Meniere's disease and peripheral vertigo, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and perforated right tympanic membrane.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development. The issues include lumbar spine, right shoulder, and peripheral vestibular disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder has been granted initial and increased ratings from May 24, 2011, to April 22, 2014, and from April 23, 2014, forward. The remaining issues of hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is not currently service-connected for any condition that could be related to his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a vestibular disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are directly related to his military service or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vertigo are denied.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for vertigo, to include as secondary to service-connected hearing loss, must be remanded due to inadequate opinions and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The appeal for service connection for myopia, bilateral hearing loss, and Meniere's disease has been dismissed. The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the claim for myopia at a Board hearing prior to the promulgation of a decision. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria. Service connection for Meniere's disease/vertigo was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for a complete list of all periods of service with ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, as it is unclear if the physical profile was from one or both. The cases will be readjudicated after this information is obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's syndrome is granted, and an effective date of January 25, 2016, is established for the 100% disability rating. The Veteran also receives earlier effective dates for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.