Vertigo & vestibular disorders Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen her service connection claims for bipolar disorder, depressive type and Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for TDIU, automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, and an effective date of December 6, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's defective hearing in the right ear, tinnitus, and vertigo are all service-connected.,Specifically, the Board found that these conditions were incurred during her period of active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo due to a lack of confirmed in-service stressors and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and granted it. The other claims were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for disability manifested by vertigo. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's left ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease, specifically related to her service in ACDUTRA. The AMC is instructed to obtain any outstanding private medical records and schedule a VA examination for the veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of Meniere's syndrome, but denied it on the merits. The cervical spine disability issue is not addressed as it is unclear whether it was part of the original appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Meniere's syndrome and headaches, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's Meniere's syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 80 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of vertigo is not related to his military service or any applicable presumptive period, and was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability, including tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran did not have residuals of a fungus of the ear, otitis externa, including Meniere's disease with vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss as a result of his military service.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and a compensable evaluation for hearing loss. The claim for a higher evaluation of tinnitus is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding no evidence of a current condition during or within one year after active duty and insufficient medical evidence to link his current condition to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected brain trauma with residual vestibular cerebellar dysfunction and bilateral defective hearing require the daily personal health care services of a skilled provider, without which he would need institutional care. The Board finds that the criteria for SMC based on A&A are met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of vertigo, migraines, and tinnitus are not related to his service or any incident therein. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches and dizziness due to head trauma have been denied as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks or other symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Meniere's disease was denied as the correct effective date is August 30, 2000.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the veteran's claims for service connection or compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches with vertigo and loss of balance, and for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his arachnoiditis are being remanded to the RO for further development. The veteran also submitted a timely notice of disagreement on his claim for a higher rating for PTSD.