Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and vertigo and any in-service disease or injury. The disability did not begin during service or within one year thereafter.

The veteran's appeal is about the evaluation of his service-connected Meniere's disease with vertigo, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The RO must ensure that all VCAA notice obligations have been satisfied and provide a full year for response before remanding the case to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have Meniere's disease related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the application to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for dysmenorrhea with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, fibroid tumors and broad ligament myoma, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, stomach disorder, vaginal rash, and vertigo.

The Board found that the veteran's Meniere's disease was not manifested during service or for more than 30 years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to service or to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's otitis externa, which is currently in remission. The condition requires frequent and prolonged treatment with symptoms including itching, flaking, scaling, redness of both ears, and white flaky substance.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for lung disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of fractures of the fourth and fifth digits of the right hand. The claim for diabetes mellitus was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for tuberculosis, a respiratory disorder other than tuberculosis, vertigo, and kidney disorder based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness/vertigo and determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board found no current evidence of physical ear disorders, dizziness/vertigo, or nausea related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The issues of hepatitis C, Meniere's disease, and Epstein-Barr virus remain pending as further development is needed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo are being remanded due to the need for a VA audiologic examination.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus with vertigo secondary to ear surgery should be May 19, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current vertigo is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that Meniere's disease was not incurred in or related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.