Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2021

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his service connection claim for vertigo is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's competency for VA benefits purposes should be restored. The claim of service connection for Meniere's disease, including as secondary to vertigo, is remanded due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to her service. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for the Veteran's ear disability, encompassing hearing impairment and vertigo, effective April 7, 2021. The separate rating for bilateral hearing loss is discontinued from the same date.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are not in substantial compliance with the December 2018 remand directives. Therefore, these matters are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an ear disorder, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed peripheral vestibular disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for cysts, urinary obstruction (other than prostate cancer), vertigo, and muscle pain/joint swelling pain. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right eye disorder, left eye disorder, and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from August 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and granted a 30% rating for Meniere's disease prior to August 16, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether vertigo started during service and if it is related to service. Additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination, is needed.

The Veteran was granted a 10% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disability prior to September 26, 2013. From that date, he received a 50% disability rating.,He also received entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and skin cancer. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing BPPV, OSA, or skin cancer during active duty, nor do the Veteran's symptoms align with the onset of these conditions within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and vertigo as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service or secondary to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, increased ratings for a kidney disability, residuals of a CVA, bilateral hearing loss disability, and diabetes have been dismissed. A rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD has been granted from December 4, 2019 to April 1, 2020.