Vertigo & vestibular disorders Board decisions

The Board has determined that the case requires further examination and opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo, which is currently being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather the severity of his existing conditions.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records and needs to obtain them for proper evaluation of the Veteran's claims. The issues include determining appropriate ratings, establishing service connection, and increasing the rating for Meniere's syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for vertigo/loss balance issue/dizziness has been granted. The claims of service connection for migraines and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, and whether it should be granted as direct service connection or reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has granted the reinstatement of a 30 percent rating for service connection for vertigo, effective April 3, 2021. The Veteran's vertigo is not considered to be part of his PTSD and was improperly combined with it in an earlier decision.

The Veteran's benign neoplasm of the left ear with vertigo is rated at 30 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's Syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The issues of service connection for Peripheral Vestibular Disorder (Vertigo) and Bilateral Hearing Loss are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating of migraines, service connection for vertigo, and service connection for tinnitus. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for chronic pain, left and right knee pain, and a breathing problem were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for vertigo/loss balance issue/dizziness has been granted. The claims of service connection for migraines and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for chronic pain, left and right knee pain, and a breathing problem were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hip disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on three conditions (temporomandibular joint dysfunction injury with residuals, Meniere's disease, and peripheral vestibular disorder) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they pertain to his death.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 13, 2015 for a 30 percent evaluation for Meniere's syndrome. The Veteran met all eligibility criteria on June 10, 1999.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, bi-polar disorder, Meniere's disease (MD), vertigo, right ear hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Board will consider these issues in light of any new evidence obtained.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the August 2013 rating decision that assigned a separate 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, as it was already included in the 60 percent evaluation for Meniere's syndrome. The Board determined that severance of service connection for tinnitus is proper.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous examination reports and failure to evaluate certain disorders.

The Veteran's TDIU is based on a single disability (vertigo) and his ischemic heart disease, which was rated at 60 percent disabling prior to December 27, 2022. Therefore, the criteria for SMC housebound benefits are met and granted effective December 29, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for vertigo/loss balance issue/dizziness has been granted. The claims of service connection for migraines and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected vertigo, associated with her service-connected TBI. The condition manifests as occasional dizziness without staggering.