Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Meniere's disease, peripheral vestibular disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues are being held in abeyance due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's vertigo secondary to his service-connected tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right elbow disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity finger and/or hand disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hernia is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hypertension to include as due to Camp Lejeune service is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, fibromyalgia, and headaches migraines have been dismissed as the conditions were granted in a March 2024 rating decision.,Service connection has been established for bilateral flatfoot, degenerative arthritis of the right foot, left hallux valgus, right hallux valgus, left plantar fasciitis, right plantar fasciitis, and degenerative arthritis of the left hand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bladder condition, migraines, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined impact of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and vertigo due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran will need new or addendum opinions regarding his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and peripheral vestibular disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a new opinion regarding the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the relationship between the Veteran's vertigo and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted due to continuity of symptoms since service. The claims for OSA and BPPV are remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's syndrome, finding that the Veteran had intermittent dizziness since shortly after separation from service and resolving doubt in her favor.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the service connection claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ear disorder (dizziness, vertigo), bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and outdated examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disability, low back disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, vertigo (dizziness), and eye disability are not service-connected for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper consideration of new evidence submitted after the initial decision, and for obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's vertigo.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches and Meniere's disease are also remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety, depression, and Meniere's disease have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for peripheral vestibular disorder and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support an increase in disability ratings or a finding of unemployability due to service-connected conditions.

The claims for service connection for migraines and vertigo have been dismissed as they were granted in prior rating decisions.,Service connection has not been established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a vestibular condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such condition. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, cervical degenerative joint disease with fusion C3-7, lumbosacral strain (low back pain), and various peripheral nerve conditions, meet the criteria for SMC at a higher rate due to their combined effect on his ability to perform daily activities.