The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder, arthritis of the back, headaches, cephalgia, arthritis of the knees, ankles, foot pain, leg pain, stomach condition, and residuals of stroke are not service-connected.,The Veteran's macular drusen, dry eye syndrome, and cataracts may be secondary to his headaches.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service. The VA examiners did not provide nexus opinions for several of the issues.,The Veteran's macular drusen, dry eye syndrome, and cataracts may be secondary to his headaches, but there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral Vestibular Disorder, Arthritis of the Back, Headaches, Cephalgia, Arthritis of the Knees, Arthritis of the Ankles, Foot Pain, Leg Pain, Stomach Condition, Residuals of Stroke, Macular Drusen, Dry Eye Syndrome, and Cataracts (Secondary to Headaches)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20021269
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20021269.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for peripheral vestibular disorder remains at 30 percent, as the condition has already been rated to its maximum under VA regulations.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status or the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as there is no evidence of significant disabilities that would require such benefits.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder is denied, and his claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2019 for the grant of service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder is also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder with dizziness, along with related bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, is rated at 100 percent effective December 1, 2020. The separate ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and related vertigo are discontinued from the same date. Additionally, entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s) based on the statutory housebound rate is granted.
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