Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, nasopharyngel cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, eye disability, balance and vestibular disorder, sinusitis, and depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is found to be the cause of his current vestibular dysfunction disorder. His bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss with nonsuppurative otitis media prior to November 14, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied. The appeal for higher disability ratings remains before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and vertigo due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for Ménière’s Disease, vestibular neuronitis/neuritis and vertigo. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his active service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, GERD, hypertension, and vertigo. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence received since the previous denial.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and dizziness, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and emotional problems), and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's dizziness resulting from residual lung cancer is rated at 30 percent, effective December 21, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically Meniere’s syndrome and the cardiovascular conditions he had. The Board found that these conditions aggravated his heart issues and contributed to his cause of death.

The claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claim for a higher rating for anxiety disorder (PTSD) is also remanded as there may be a worsening of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, finding that his current diagnosis of vertigo did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a link between his vertigo and his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a vestibular disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish a current disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition was not caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo, hypertension, anxiety, and depression due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's vertigo claim is also being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, eye disability, arthritis of the shoulders, back, hips and feet, vertigo, and pancreatic cancer. The decision found no evidence to support presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure or other presumed diseases.