{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/peripheral-vestibular-disorders-secondary-to-tinnitus","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:27.094Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Peripheral vestibular disorders secondary to tinnitus","secondary_condition":"Peripheral vestibular disorders","service_connected_disability":"tinnitus","decisions":604,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":12.3,"denied_pct":18.7,"remanded_pct":68.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":39.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":34,"granted_pct":11.8,"denied_pct":23.5,"remanded_pct":58.8},{"year":2018,"issues":47,"granted_pct":4.3,"denied_pct":29.8,"remanded_pct":66},{"year":2019,"issues":51,"granted_pct":9.8,"denied_pct":9.8,"remanded_pct":80.4},{"year":2020,"issues":53,"granted_pct":15.1,"denied_pct":24.5,"remanded_pct":60.4},{"year":2021,"issues":74,"granted_pct":10.8,"denied_pct":20.3,"remanded_pct":68.9},{"year":2022,"issues":65,"granted_pct":6.2,"denied_pct":30.8,"remanded_pct":63.1},{"year":2023,"issues":70,"granted_pct":5.7,"denied_pct":11.4,"remanded_pct":82.9},{"year":2024,"issues":84,"granted_pct":15.5,"denied_pct":15.5,"remanded_pct":69},{"year":2025,"issues":81,"granted_pct":18.5,"denied_pct":13.6,"remanded_pct":67.9},{"year":2026,"issues":46,"granted_pct":23.9,"denied_pct":13,"remanded_pct":63}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":75.7,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":60,"granted_pct_with":70,"granted_pct_without":33.8},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":490,"granted_pct_with":38,"granted_pct_without":50},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":110,"granted_pct_with":84.4,"granted_pct_without":16.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":416,"granted_pct_with":35.4,"granted_pct_without":53.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":183,"granted_pct_with":59,"granted_pct_without":25.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":458,"granted_pct_with":34.4,"granted_pct_without":63.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":14},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":12},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":8},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":6},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":29},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":14},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":14},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":11},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":8},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26031028","year":2026,"judge":"COLLEEN M. GLASER-ALLEN","rationale":"Private medical opinion found BPPV more likely than not secondary to and aggravated by service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.; VA opinion found BPPV less likely than not proximately due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, deemed inadequate due to unlawful \"proximate cause\" standard… [truncated, 70 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26026945","year":2026,"judge":"M. DONOHUE","rationale":"Current diagnosis of vertigo; Secondary to service-connected tinnitus/bilateral hearing loss; Persuasive private medical opinion with thorough rationale"},{"case_id":"A26025159","year":2026,"judge":"J. NICHOLS","rationale":"Vertigo is a symptom of Meniere's syndrome, for which service connection is granted.; Evidence in approximate balance regarding service connection.; Favorable VA and private opinions supported a link to service."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26030659","year":2026,"judge":"MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER","rationale":"VA examiner opined vertigo less likely than not due to tinnitus/service/toxic exposure; Veteran's claims of dizziness/imbalance since service not chronologically established; Lay statements contradicted by medical records and insufficient for nexus"},{"case_id":"A26030293","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTI L. GUNN","rationale":"No in-service complaints or treatment for vertigo.; Decades-long gap between service and first post-service diagnosis.; Unfavorable VA opinions stating BPPV is less likely than not related to service or aggravated by tinnitus/hearing loss.; BPPV is a mechanical condition distinct from auditory patho… [truncated, 90 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26029238","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN B. KRAMER","rationale":"No nexus between vertigo and service-connected tinnitus/BHL; VA examiner opined vertigo less likely than not caused by tinnitus; Tinnitus and vertigo are separate conditions, though may be comorbid"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":605,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":284,"granted_pct":5.3},"causation_only":{"issues":321,"granted_pct":18.4},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":3.5,"pathways":[]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}