Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for labyrinthitis and peripheral vestibular disorder, finding that these conditions are related to acoustic trauma and ear injury in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus and/or bilateral hearing loss, caused or aggravated his vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, varicose veins, and plantar fasciitis (claimed as bone spurs). Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Bilateral hearing loss was established based on audiometric findings from a December 2012 VA examination. Tinnitus was diagnosed in the same examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during his period of active duty or within a year after discharge. The Board also found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Specifically, the VA needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of each condition and if any such diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss, secondary to residuals of subtotal transsphenoidal resection of benign pituitary macroadenoma. The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The issues of an increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to their dependency on the initial rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's TBI residuals, specifically vision problems, dizziness, balance problems, and vertigo. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, residual scars from post-service surgery, and an ear disorder. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and thus could not establish service connection. Service connection for a scar over the left eye and a scar over the right eye is also denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's headaches and vertigo are related to service, but has also identified a need for additional development regarding his acquired psychiatric disability. The case is therefore remanded.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, finding that the condition did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise the result of a disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by service-connected Meniere’s disease, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including additional education to pursue a career as a professor or school counselor, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic migraines and vertigo, both rated at 30 percent from June 17, 2016. Attorney fees in the amount of 20% of past-due benefits awarded are granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee condition and vertigo, as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran was not provided with proper notice of his scheduled VA examinations.