Citation Nr: 21028090 Decision Date: 05/10/21 Archive Date: 05/10/21 DOCKET NO. 15-45 115 DATE: May 10, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for vertigo is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1989 to May 1992. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Board remanded this case in April 2019 for further development. In a January 2021 rating decision, the Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As these issues have been resolved by a full grant of the benefits sought, they are no longer in appellate status. AB v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 35 (1993). 1. Entitlement to service connection for vertigo is remanded. The Board finds that the May 2014 and December 2020 VA examination opinions are inadequate. In September 1990, January 1991, and February 1991 service treatment records, the Veteran was treated for dizziness and possible vertigo, Meniere's diagnosis, or vestibular neuritis and he reported at least a five-year history of episodes of dizziness. The May 2014 and December 2020 VA examinations did not address the in-service reports of dizziness and provisional diagnoses of vertigo, Meniere's disease, and vestibular neuritis. Further, the Board finds that the record, to include a February 1991 service treatment record and an October 2013 lay statement, indicates that the Veteran's vertigo may be associated with his now service-connected tinnitus. As such, the Board finds that a remand is required to obtain a supplemental VA opinion. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain a supplemental VA opinion from an appropriately qualified examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's vertigo. Only if deemed necessary to provide an opinion, should the Veteran be afforded a new VA examination. Provide the claims file, including a copy of this REMAND, to the examiner for review. (a) the examiner should opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's vertigo had its onset during active duty service, or was otherwise etiologically related to service. In providing this opinion, please discuss the service treatment records showing that the Veteran had been treated for dizziness and provisionally diagnosed with vertigo, Meniere's disease, and vestibular neuritis. (b) The examiner should opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's vertigo was proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, to include tinnitus. In providing this opinion, please discuss the February 1991 service treatment record and October 2013 lay statement indicating that the Veteran's vertigo may be associated with this tinnitus. A complete rationale for any opinion expressed must be provided. LESLEY A. REIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Ko, Associate Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.