Vertigo & vestibular disorders Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for tinnitus/vertigo, chest pains, headaches, and possibly neck pain. The other conditions have not met this standard.,For bilateral hearing loss, no new and material evidence was found. For left knee, leg, and ankle disabilities, no new and material evidence was found either.

The Veteran's L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective July 30, 2008. The issues of tension headaches and vertigo remain unresolved as they are not part of the appeal process for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to his in-service noise exposure and service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these findings. The claim for service connection for vertigo was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo/Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo did not originate during his active military service and is not related to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's vertigo did not become chronic in service and there was no continuity of symptomatology between service and the present. The Board also noted conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the vertigo is related to service, with one examiner attributing it to noise exposure during service and another indicating it is unrelated to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including providing adequate notice on secondary service connection and obtaining additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 60 percent, including a 50 percent rating for PTSD and 10 percent ratings for tinnitus, vertigo, and traumatic brain injury. The Veteran has post-service occupational experience as an electronics/fire alarm technician, driver, tour guide, and unpaid volunteer positions. His service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's vertigo associated with Meniere's disease has been rated at 30 percent since the rating period on appeal. The Board finds that he is entitled to a higher 60 percent disability evaluation, but no higher, for his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness/vertigo and perennial rhinitis were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease or injury in service, and the symptoms are not separate from other conditions.

The Veteran asserts service connection for an inner ear disorder with vertigo based on service incurrence. The VA has now granted service connection for anxiety disorder, which the Veteran claims is related to his inner ear disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral vertigo with acute nausea is etiologically related to his active service, including an incident of rapid decompression while aboard a submarine during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have Meniere's syndrome and concluded that service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for Meniere's disease was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a higher evaluation prior to July 27, 2007 or since then.

The Board found that Meniere's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected disability, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, light headedness, and vertigo were denied. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residual scarring of the neck was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his left ear hearing loss and vertigo was granted. He is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation for vertigo, effective since June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's current vertigo was caused by a post-service industrial accident and surgery, and is not related to active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. For Meniere's disease, the Board has also found that it is at least as likely as not related to active service, including noise exposure during artillery duty. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss based on noise exposure during service.