Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for headaches, blurry vision, vertigo, low back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or any exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 10, 2017, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The TDIU was awarded due to his service-connected conditions preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss with vestibular dysfunction is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including the need to associate VA treatment records and obtain private treatment records. A new examination is also required.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was found to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for vertigo as secondary to service-connected TBI is remanded due to the need for an opinion on causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of objective evidence or subjective reports of occasional staggering along with dizziness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and vestibular disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected migraines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was granted with a 70% disability rating effective April 29, 2011. The appeal related to the reopening of his previously denied claim and assignment of an initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for vestibular schwannoma, claimed as pituitary prolactinoma and pituitary tumor, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was filed prematurely.

The Veteran's tinnitus and vertigo are found to be related to her military service. The claims for laryngitis and sinusitis are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for headaches and has remanded the issue of service connection for vertigo, to include disequilibrium, as secondary to service connected tinnitus and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance, a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. §1114(p), and a 10 percent rating for otitis media have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that the earliest possible effective dates for these benefits are June 28, 2001 (SMC based on aid and attendance) and August 8, 2008 (higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. §1114(p)), respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence, except for her claim regarding depression which was found not to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection as they manifested within one year of separation from service. The issue of service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the raised claim.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are granted a 50% rating, effective from the date of the decision. His service-connected vertigo is also granted a 30% rating. The Veteran's back condition remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his vertigo is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's Meniere's Syndrome is now rated at the maximum 100 percent disability level effective May 23, 2013.,Migraine headaches are also service-connected and rated as secondary to Meniere's Syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for sinus headaches, allergic rhinitis, rubella, gastroenteritis (claimed as abdominal pain, acid reflux and GERD), and vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 27, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and will need to obtain additional medical records, including those from a community care physical therapist and Touchstone Rehab. The examiner must determine if the Veteran's BPPV clearly pre-existed his service or was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Additional medical clarification and adequate VA medical opinions are needed regarding the nature of her claimed vertigo, its relationship to her service-connected tinnitus, headaches with dizziness, and right ear hearing loss.