Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and diabetes mellitus have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after her military service, and they are not related to any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (left and right) have been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and eye disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current peripheral vestibular disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a migraine disability has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current headache condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted, and his arthritis of multiple unspecified joints is denied. The Veteran's back strain is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye condition has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, respiratory disorder, hypertension, circulatory disorder, skin cancer of the left arm with residual scar, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or relationship between these conditions and military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, skin cancer of the left arm, and diabetes mellitus, type II were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, residuals of hemorrhagic stroke, and vertigo are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for an anxiety disorder is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral vestibular disorder, including motion sickness, is related to her service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for service-connected vestibular disorientation ear condition, finding that the evidence supported the reduction to 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and denied service connection for BPPV. The Veteran's painful scars of the left thigh were rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute mixed drug intoxication, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to further develop both theories of entitlement regarding prescribed medications for service-connected disabilities and VA negligence.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected vestibular abnormality and positional vertigo, finding that the disability picture did not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 6204 or 6205.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for service-connected Meniere’s syndrome with vertigo was granted, but the claim for sinusitis with sinus headaches was denied.

The Board has recharacterized the claim for service connection for vertigo as one for ear dysfunction manifested by vertigo.,Service connection cannot be established for CAD, sleep apnea, or PTSD due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service-connected compensation was denied, and the appellant is not a dependent child of the Veteran. Therefore, she cannot receive accrued benefits.