Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was reopened and granted. Additionally, the effective date of her total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was set at June 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a heart condition, and lung conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions due to an administrative error in docketing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for vertigo and service connection for Meniere's syndrome, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including DJD of the left arm and ruptured bicep tendon (left arm), residuals of a right arm fracture, accelerated cataracts, CAD, a back condition, and a neck condition. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical examinations and insufficient consideration of the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and vertigo, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during her military service and have continued since then. The remaining issues of pes planus, bilateral shin splints, and remand are addressed in the Remand section.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current back disorder. The other issues remain denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a respiratory condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to service. The cervical spine, hip, knee, vertigo, and hypertension disabilities are also remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right total knee arthroplasty with scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of range of motion that would permit a higher evaluation.,Service connection for Meniere's disease, lung neoplasm with surgery and residuals, and vocal damage were all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the bilateral hands is denied.,Compensable initial ratings for right and left shin splints are denied.,Service connection for residuals of an injury to the tailbone, neck disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, insomnia, and vertigo is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability and vertigo due to errors in previous decisions, lack of proper medical opinions, and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's migraines are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.,The Veteran's Meniere's disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service-connected tinnitus.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for abnormal gait, vertigo, TBI residuals, right knee disorder, and tension headaches have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.,Specifically, the Board determined that an abnormal gait is not a compensable disability, vertigo was not diagnosed, there were no TBI residuals, the right knee disorder did not arise in service, and tension headaches were due to allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran is granted service connection for Meniere's syndrome and tinnitus, but the appeal regarding hyperacusis is dismissed.,Hyperacusis is rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 6211, which does not provide a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran is granted an evaluation of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from August 29, 2012, but no earlier. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected ear-disease disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is currently rated at the highest available rating (30%) and no higher. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of this level.

The Veteran's TBI resulted in neurobehavioral symptoms that interfered with workplace and social interaction, warranting a 70% disability rating from September 27, 2017 to May 4, 2021.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran is granted a separate 30% disability rating for vertigo.