Vertigo & vestibular disorders decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and dizziness. The examiner did not adequately address the evidence of complaints of dizziness on the day of the injection and in the months afterwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for Meniere's Disease due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing these issues.

Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The claim for service connection for hypertension is reopened, but a rating and effective date have not been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation from February 22, 2010, until September 19, 2010. The Board granted the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during these periods.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as service connected due to exposure to ototoxic substances during service. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorders and ED are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed vestibular disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an episode of acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee disabilities, macular degeneration, hypertension, aortic blood vessel aneurism, vertigo, COPD, and congestive heart failure, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The appeal is now moot.

The Board has granted service connection for a vestibular disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his in-service traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for Meniere’s disease with peripheral vestibular disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder, arthritis of the back, headaches, cephalgia, arthritis of the knees, ankles, foot pain, leg pain, stomach condition, and residuals of stroke are not service-connected.,The Veteran's macular drusen, dry eye syndrome, and cataracts are also not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of right thumb fracture has been denied.,The Board also found that the Veteran’s vestibular dysfunction disorder is not related to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus remanded the issue for clarification.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI is rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that there are no residuals of his TBI that warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus, acoustic neuroma tumor in the left internal auditory canal, and neck disability. The right foot disability claim was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound due to insufficient evidence showing she is in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of Meniere's disease, finding that the claim was received on August 14, 2007 and thus the current effective date is correct.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's Meniere's Disease may be related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but more evidence is needed to determine if it was caused by in-service noise exposure.