Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and vertigo, finding that these conditions are causally related to the veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's Meniere's disease was not caused by in-service noise exposure or his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 15, 1999 for the grant of service connection for vertigo was granted. The effective date is set at January 17, 1996, the date of receipt of his initial claim.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected Meniere's syndrome, finding that his daily attacks of vertigo and dizziness warranted this rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's need for regular aid and attendance is established, given her physical and mental incapacities. Her claim for additional allowance based on this need is granted.

The veteran's current neurological problems, including vertigo with dizziness and tinnitus, are etiologically related to an in-service accident. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for Meniere's syndrome, resulting in a 'mixed' disposition as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and vertigo secondary to a head injury, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's Meniere's Syndrome with associated hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness is rated at a 60 percent disability rating effective April 9, 1993.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's current vertigo is not causally or etiologically related to his active service. The VA medical records and private medical records do not support a link between the veteran's vertigo and his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of a denial on the merits for right ear hearing loss due to lack of appeal. The claim for acne vulgaris was also denied on the merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vertigo is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for Meniere's syndrome, currently rated at 30 percent disabling from May 21, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, a heart disorder, nicotine dependence, and lung disorder secondary to nicotine dependence. The veteran's claims were not found to be supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for Meniere's syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.