Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The case will be sent back for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo on a direct basis due to in-service noise exposure, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's vertigo was related to this exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, scheduling a VA medical examination to determine the current severity of Meniere's Syndrome, and obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence submitted, but service connection for dizziness and balance problems is still pending. The case is remanded for a VA examiner's opinion on whether the Veteran’s symptoms are related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, major depressive disorder and pain disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo and dizziness, vision problems to include tunnel vision, erectile dysfunction, and hyperpituitarism with low testosterone are all being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for epilepsy and remanded the issues of service connection for dizziness and fainting spells, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's epilepsy is not currently diagnosed, while his dizziness and fainting spells are presumed to be due to Meniere's syndrome and chronic ischemic microvascular white matter disease. His acquired psychiatric disorder includes major depressive disorder, anxiety, and adjustment disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to March 8, 2017 for his bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue of service connection for a right ear condition, including punctured collapsed right ear drum and vertigo, is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service TBI.

The Veteran's service-connected Meniere’s syndrome and tinnitus are granted with a 100% rating effective April 3, 2018. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is denied prior to April 10, 2018 and greater than 50% thereafter. A 30% evaluation for tension headaches is granted effective September 4, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during service or is related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied, with no current diagnosis found and the Veteran denying recurrent symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo or a vestibular disorder and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for Meniere’s syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to in-service exposure to ototoxic chemicals.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and new evidence submitted within a year of the previous rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and remanded the issues of reopening left ear hearing loss, service connection for Meniere’s disease, increase in rating for right ear hearing loss, and rating for lumbar spondylosis. The case is now pending with the VA to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to their service-connected vestibular disorder.