Vertigo & vestibular disorders Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches with dizziness, formerly claimed as Meniere's Disease, was denied by the RO. The maximum benefit of a noncompensable rating has not been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a chronic disease process manifested by dizziness and vertigo, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board found that there is no relationship between the veteran's service-connected hearing loss and his claimed vertigo, and denied both claims for service connection. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there was insufficient evidence to support the occurrence of an in-service stressor.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and Meniere's disease as secondary to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that they were not related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and the need for additional examinations. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's vertigo, loss of balance, and/or dizziness was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current endolymphatic hydrops and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are at least as likely as not related to an injury incurred during service, specifically a head injury sustained in boot camp. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in considerable impairment of social adaptability and interactions with others, including problems with irritability, depression, and the desire to isolate. The Board found that a 50 percent evaluation was warranted for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic inner ear disease or vestibular dysfunction manifested by vertigo.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for dysthymia and anxiety, an ulcer and hiatal hernia, special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's current Meniere's disease and migraine headaches and his active service, or any service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, and grants service connection for a cochlear and vestibular disorder due to acoustic trauma sustained during military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's labyrinthine dysfunction/Meniere's disease to service or his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for chronic vestibular dysfunction, including Mônière's disease, finding no causal relationship to his military service.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Request the veteran to report the entire period since his retirement from service during which he has received VA medical treatment and the location of that treatment, and also any other medical treatment he has received since military retirement for any of the conditions for which he seeks service connection. (2) Schedule the veteran for VA examination to document his current hearing acuity and for the examiner to provide an opinion of the time of onset of hearing impairment and whether it is less than, equal to, or greater than 50 percent probable that current hearing impairment results from acoustic trauma in service or any other incident of service. (3) If and only if additional medical records are obtained, consider whether the veteran is entitled to additional VA examinations as provided in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4), and schedule any indicated examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with endolymphatic hydrops, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus. The appeal is based on new evidence submitted after a final decision denying the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals, status post epidural anesthetic (claimed as a neuro vestibular disturbance secondary to spinal tap), and granted service connection for interstitial cystitis with a 20% evaluation effective July 10, 2001. The veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 10%, and her bacterial vaginitis was rated at 10%. The Board denied the remaining claims.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD related to her military service, including any period of inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The claim for vertigo or a disability manifested by dizziness is addressed in the REMAND portion and is referred back to the RO.

The veteran's Meniere's syndrome has been manifested by severe, bilateral peripheral vestibular paresis with progressive instability, constant imbalance, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus since the inception of the appeal. The Board grants a 100 percent rating for Meneire's syndrome effective March 16, 2000.