Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's dizziness, vertigo, BPPV, and Meniere's syndrome. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right ear vestibular disorder, disfigurement associated with right tragus scars, and painful right tragus scar due to insufficient consideration of recent VA examination reports.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, and vertigo due to incomplete development. The Veteran's request for a hearing was withdrawn, and the Court ordered further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for COPD with asbestosis prior to June 23, 2014, is denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,Service connection for TBI or residuals of TBI and dizziness or peripheral vestibular disorder are both denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for Meniere's disease from April 12, 2012. The Veteran experienced frequent episodes of vertigo and cerebellar gait more than once a week throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, acid reflux, and dizziness/vertigo due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the other issues due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as there is no separate and distinct condition found prior to January 10, 2022. From that date onward, the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to January 18, 2012 was denied because his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease and granted a 30 percent rating for BPPV, effective September 8, 2014. The decision also dismissed the claim of increased rating for BPPV prior to February 23, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, neurological disability of the lower extremities, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and vertigo as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since July 18, 2014. Prior to that date, he was employed full-time and thus did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability and its relationship to his service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss with otosclerosis of the right ear. The Veteran is asked to provide a full rationale for their conclusion.

The Board has denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for service connection of vertigo as secondary to hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 5, 2010 is being remanded due to the Board's error in not considering the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The evidence shows that his psychiatric and groin pull disabilities have significantly impacted his ability to secure and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's TBI, including rating higher than 10 percent for the condition and separate ratings for other residuals. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability as a TBI residual is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (vertigo) was denied as it is not due to or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to February 6, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including stomach ulcers, prostate cancer residuals, anxiety and panic attacks, arthritis of the lower back, vision problems, umbilical hernia, high blood pressure, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis of the knees. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and active service.