Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's inner ear disabilities, including vestibular hypofunction, vestibular insufficiency, and BPPV, are caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's Meniere's Disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected MDD/GAD. However, the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for MDD/GAD remains denied.

The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, bipolar I disorder, alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury with vertigo, diplopia, and convergence insufficiency is dismissed due to a procedural defect.

The Board has granted service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) as it had its onset during the Veteran's period of inactive duty training in April 2015 and is related to his noise exposure.

The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine condition is denied.,The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded.,The claim of service connection for vertigo is remanded.,The claim of service connection for sinusitis is remanded.,The claim of service connection for asthma (also claimed as chronic bronchitis) is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, which was dismissed. The other service connection claims remain pending.

An earlier effective date of February 2, 2023, for a 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 2, 2023, for service connection for Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, TBI, and Meniere's syndrome is rated at 70 percent effective January 14, 2019. The appeal for an earlier effective date was denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied. The reduction of VA compensation due to felony incarceration was found proper.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), BPH, GERD, hypertension, chronic dyspnea, vertigo as secondary to tinnitus, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, insomnia, and chronic fatigue have all been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is for CUE in the January 2018 rating decision that assigned a 60 percent initial rating for Meniere's disease. The AOJ has continued this rating and denied an earlier effective date, citing lack of evidence of more than once weekly vertigo attacks.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for conjunctivitis was denied. The right fifth finger s/p boxer's fracture and vertigo claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for vertigo, heart murmur disability, hypertension, and anemia as secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma due to inadequate opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease (vertigo), and kidney disease due to a lack of a Board hearing. The claims are also being remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, clarifying speech discrimination testing used in February 2024 VA treatment records, and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran has current kidney disabilities related to service, including lead exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are granted as service-connected. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for Meniere's disease have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected left ear hearing loss and/or tinnitus caused or aggravated the vertigo.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding whether it is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for vertigo, as it is related to service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his vertigo disability had its onset in or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and vertigo due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The issues are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no current hearing loss or Meniere's disease for VA purposes, and thus the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.