Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for AOJ review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, and vestibular disorder disabilities due to service. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is dismissed. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, PVD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable since April 26, 2019. The Board has granted an effective date of April 26, 2019, for the award of a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is found to be the proximate cause of his diagnosed adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the claim of peripheral vestibular disorder due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's vertigo is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, the highest possible under DC 6204.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the knee, skin disorder, vertigo, and sleep apnea claims are being reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for headaches, including as secondary to Meniere's Disease, due to inadequate rationale in the March 2020 VA opinion and a need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection as the claim was granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for eating disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Meniere's syndrome or endolymphatic hydrops, including whether it is related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's headaches, vestibular disorder, and right upper extremity muscle weakness associated with TBI are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 30 percent disability rating for his headaches from April 20, 2010 to March 30, 2017, and on and after March 30, 2017. A separate rating of 30 percent is also granted for the Veteran's vestibular disorder. The Veteran's right upper extremity muscle weakness associated with TBI is not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, left hand strain, right knee strain, and Meniere's syndrome due to incomplete treatment records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's headaches, GERD and vertigo were not found to be service-connected. Headaches were denied as they are a separate entity from the service-connected disabilities. GERD was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to evaluate whether a separate compensable rating is warranted for the Veteran's TBI residuals, including his vestibular injury and balance/dizziness symptoms. The DROC will schedule an examination and obtain a medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, left ear hearing loss, and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran did not have diagnosed conditions of vertigo or left ear hearing loss at any time during the appeal period. Right ear hearing loss was found to be noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether in-service herbicide agent exposure is related. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including TBI, hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease, are not considered as causes for his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of exposure to environmental toxins and injuries during military service. The cases are now pending before a VA examiner for further evaluation.