Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent, prior to January 29, 2024, for service-connected Meniere's disease and tinnitus; special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s); and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 29, 2024.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed, and claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for a higher disability rating for Meniere's syndrome with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran did not timely file a Board Appeal request with respect to the rating decision issued on July 14, 2023.

The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for psychiatric disability and Meniere's disease, but denied SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with TBI and granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, secondary to tinnitus and a compensable rating for the cesarean section scar. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, osteoarthritis of both hips, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA's obligation to obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and vertigo due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for Meniere's syndrome based on the Veteran's symptoms of dizziness and staggering.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of vertigo to obtain a new VA opinion addressing the etiology and any aggravation by service-connected tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for vertigo, itchy eyes, stuffy nose, and nasal congestion, coughing, anal bleeding, and anal fissures on a direct basis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link or secondary causation by his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, along with his limited education, skills, training, and work history, limit his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Accordingly, entitlement to a TDIU is granted.

The Board granted service connection for a vestibular disability, a headache disability secondary to the vestibular disability, obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected disabilities, bilateral pes planus aggravated during service, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claim for chronic sinusitis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and denied earlier effective dates for headaches, but granted an earlier effective date of January 12, 2012, for prostate cancer-related conditions. The decision also remanded Meniere's disease and granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for migraine headaches and migraine variant headaches, but denied an increased rating for TBI with benign positional vertigo. The claims for increased ratings for speech impairment involving the left and right tenth cranial nerves and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for balance impairment, to include peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), for further development.

The Board granted service connection for chronic dizziness or vertigo, but remanded the claims for a left shoulder condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hip and pelvis conditions, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral leg condition.