Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for Meniere’s disease and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all related issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence not being required, as previous decisions were not final. The claims are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder), a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, COPD and chronic bronchitis, migraine headaches, right elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ear hearing loss, intermittent vertigo, intermittent hand tremors, and intermittent blackouts. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed stressors or a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, sinus disorder, respiratory disorder, heart disorder, stomach disorder, eye disorder, vestibular disorder, and TBI residuals are denied as there is no current disability found to be related to service.

The Veteran's vertigo is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral vascular disorder/vertigo is rated at a maximum of 30 percent, effective throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for otitis media and denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for Meniere's disease prior to March 20, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board dismissed all previously appealed claims due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records from Afghanistan and provide him with a VA examination regarding his claimed disabilities, including back pain, shortness of breath, fatigue/sleep disorder, chest pain, hypertension, heartburn, low testosterone, skin rashes, migraines/nausea/vertigo, and memory loss. The examiner must consider the Veteran's exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, dizziness with headaches, and Meniere’s disease were denied as these conditions are not related to his active duty service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's Meniere's Disease should be remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus. The TDIU claim also needs further review.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and vertigo due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with a VA examination.

The Veteran's cognitive impairment, vertigo, and posttraumatic headaches (migraines) as residuals of TBI are all granted with specific ratings. The cognitive impairment is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating for vertigo is also 40 percent, and the migraines are rated at their maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.