Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a rib disability. The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome is currently rated as 30 percent for vertigo, 40 percent for hearing loss, and 10 percent for tinnitus. A remand is required to address the issue of service connection for a rib disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service-connected vestibular neuritis have been granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for vestibular neuritis is set at May 23, 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's hearing was within normal limits at separation, but conversion of audiometric data is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, blood clots of bilateral lower extremities, dizziness (vertigo), and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation as a ground radio operator during service. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's vertigo and balance disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as vertigo. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

A 100 percent rating for PTSD, with other substance abuse disorder and TBI with peripheral vestibular disorder, from August 14, 2008 to the present, is granted. Service connection for a vision disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo (dizziness), and right foot disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to provide a nexus opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected headaches has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for vertigo has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea has been denied.,The effective date claims for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, femoral radulopathy, and sleep apnea have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 50 percent rating for service-connected headaches has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and femoral radulopathy have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of potentially favorable evidence related to the Veteran's claim, including a November 4, 2012 emergency department note and July 31, 2012 neurology note. The Veteran is service connected for residuals of a stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy, all due to his exposure to hexavalent chromium in the Navy.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right hand wound, Muscle Group IX impairment is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the presence of a penetrating muscle injury.,A separate TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cyst on back, heart disability, vertigo, and cranial hemorrhage are being remanded due to incomplete VA medical opinions.,Additional evidence is needed from the Veteran regarding his treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's dizziness had its onset in service. The claim was denied on a secondary basis due to lack of medical nexus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for vertigo and hypertension are denied due to lack of current disability. Residuals of stroke are remanded.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of right ear vestibular schwannoma as it was not on appeal, and the Veteran's hearing loss claim has been resolved.