Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2024

The Veteran's headaches and vertigo are related to his service, while chronic fatigue syndrome and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) have not been linked to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid condition and Meniere's disease due to incomplete development under the provisions of the PACT Act. The claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted.,Further evaluations or determinations are needed on the issues of low back disability, Meniere's disease, sleep apnea, and kidney disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, migraines, PTSD, and TBI-related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment for the appeal period from May 14, 2018, to September 7, 2021, and from September 18, 2021, to September 7, 2022. Effective September 7, 2021, he is in receipt of a 100% combined schedular disability rating.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and rating for various conditions, including migraines, vertigo, obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's IBS is granted with a maximum 30 percent rating. The Board has determined that further examinations are needed for her kidney and bladder issues, right toe disability, right shoulder condition, vertigo, gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD), and fatigue.

The Veteran's PVD is granted a 30% rating, but no more. The Veteran's GERD and LLE radiculopathy prior to March 30, 2018 are denied ratings in excess of 10%. Service connection for Chronic Pain Syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability. The claims for left and right breast fibroadenomas, bilateral hallux valgus (bunions), and residuals of a right femur stress fracture are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo and staggering symptoms, specifically whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected acute otitis media.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for service connection for Meniere's disease and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has dismissed these claims as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the case due to its failure to address a claim of entitlement to service connection for dizziness/vertigo, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran needs to be provided with an examination to determine if his dizziness/vertigo or BPPV is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has identified new evidence added to the claims file since the September 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case and has ordered that it be reviewed by the AOJ before readjudicating your claims.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is not found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent from June 3, 2019, through May 15, 2023, and at 70 percent since May 16, 2023. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's urticaria with angioneurotic edema has been rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded, as are the appeals for vertigo, weak bone density, and a chronic skin condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional evidence, including treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case to clarify whether the Veteran's symptoms of loss of balance, dizziness, falling, and vertigo are indicative of a vestibular disorder related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran should be scheduled for an examination to determine if these symptoms represent a vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 27, 2018, for service connection of vertigo (previously claimed as dizziness) was denied. An initial disability rating of 30 percent for service-connected vertigo is granted.

The Veteran's vertigo and left knee disability are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent prior to June 24, 2021, but granted an initial rating of 10 percent since that date. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 10 percent regardless of the effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is about whether he should receive a higher rating for his vestibular neuritis, which was previously rated at 10 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case back to the RO so they can consider if a single rating under DC 6205 would be more appropriate than separate ratings under DCs 6204 and 6260.