Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee, hand, wrist, foot, and eye conditions, as well as a psychiatric disability (PTSD), are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The main reasons are to obtain missing service treatment records and private medical records, as well as to determine whether new evidence supports reopening of certain claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is related to service or secondary to his service-connected right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional evidence received since the July 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is found to be secondary to his BPPV, and he is granted service connection for BPPV. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied extraschedular ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his vertigo and peripheral neuropathy, as well as other issues on appeal. The AOJ will conduct further development and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a hearing request are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including treatment from VA facilities, private providers, and police reports related to his confinement.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraines, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his migraine disability, vertigo disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo and dizziness, including BPPV. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion from an ENT specialist.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including those related to migraines and PTSD with TBI residuals.,A decision on the issues will significantly impact the Veteran's entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim from May 4, 2016, to July 24, 2017, is dismissed as moot because he was already receiving a 100% disability rating for PTSD. The SMC claim prior to July 25, 2017, is also dismissed due to the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities not meeting the required criteria.

The Veteran's post-concussion headaches and dizziness have been granted separate evaluations at the 30 percent and 10 percent levels, respectively, effective February 9, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for vertigo and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia).

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's syndrome is granted a 100% disability rating effective October 20, 2015. The separate ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are discontinued.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions. The Veteran's vertigo is being reviewed for service connection, including secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for Meniere's disease due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's dizziness and vertigo, including Meniere's disease, as well as secondary service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will need to provide the Veteran with examinations and consider additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right vestibular system dysfunction, finding that his current condition is a result of in-service syncope and not due to aggravation or pre-existing conditions.