The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of balance and dizziness/vertigo were denied. The Board found that these symptoms were manifestations of nonservice-connected Parkinson’s disease, not separate disabilities. Service connection was granted for TBI with persistent depressive disorder and a neurocognitive disorder from March 9, 2018, but no earlier, resulting in a 100% rating. Separate noncompensable ratings were assigned for perforated tympanic membranes of the right and left ears throughout the appeal period. SMC at the housebound rate was granted starting from March 9, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that loss of balance and dizziness/vertigo were manifestations of nonservice-connected Parkinson’s disease and not separate disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Loss of balance, Dizziness/Vertigo
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079673
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 20079673.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's lay statements and medical literature. The issues of service connection for a heart disability, diabetes, and loss of balance are being remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling a medical examination to address the etiology of dizziness/vertigo.
- Granted
The Veteran's TBI residuals of dizziness/vertigo and gait, coordination, and balance issues are rated at a 10 percent level due to mild interference with instrumental activities of daily living or work.
- Granted
The Veteran's alcohol abuse is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The appeals for dizziness, loss of balance, and syncope are dismissed because these symptoms are already considered in the rating assigned for tonic-clonic seizures.
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