Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his vestibular disorders, including vertigo and Meniere's disease, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability. The weight of evidence supports that these conditions are related to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for Meniere's disease prior to June 1, 2011. The Board has ordered the AOJ to locate and upload documents that were listed in the March 2011 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, has been granted for degenerative arthritis of the right fifth finger.,Service connection for hypertension has been established.,Service connection for residuals of status post bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome release has been established.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been established.,Service connection for a disability of the ear manifested by dizziness (including vertigo and peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD)) as secondary to service-connected rhinitis has been established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has not been established.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's vertigo/dizziness, including whether it is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, migraines, and vertigo have been granted initial disability ratings of 100%, 50%, and 30% respectively. The right shoulder labral tear remains denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's Meniere's disease initially presented during his active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease as the evidence did not persuasively show it was incurred during or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 30, 2006 to March 29, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and BPPV are remanded due to the need for a VA audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's vertigo is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining National Guard treatment records and VA medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims are not currently decided.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the severity of residuals from service-connected TBI. The appeal is now pending for a new VA medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm and left elbow disabilities are dismissed. Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act, while other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in applying the correct legal standard and failing to address a reasonably raised issue regarding whether the Veteran's dizziness is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder and migraines, with a 50% disability rating.,His tinnitus is also now service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or BPPV. Further development is needed.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for service-connected Meniere's disease, which manifested by hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and vertigo under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about VA's delay in scheduling appropriate care, which may have caused or exacerbated his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and sinusitis prior to August 18, 2022, and for a rating higher than 30 percent since then have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate staggering from dizziness or incapacitating episodes of sinusitis.