WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your meniere's disease (also called Meniere's, Menieres disease, vertigo, dizziness), it can cause or worsen other conditions that are ratable on their own. These "secondary" claims are where many veterans leave money on the table. Below is what a service-connected meniere's disease commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (meniere's disease) is already service-connected, and you have a nexus — a doctor's opinion that it is "at least as likely as not" the cause. More on nexus letters →
Inner-ear (vestibular) disease very commonly comes with ringing in the ears; tinnitus is one of the easiest secondaries to establish.
What you'd need: Your report of persistent tinnitus (VA accepts credible lay statements) plus the vestibular diagnosis.
Meniere's and related inner-ear disorders damage hearing over time; sensorineural hearing loss can be service-connected as secondary.
What you'd need: A VA-style audiogram (Maryland CNC speech test) and a nexus opinion linking the loss to the ear disease.
Unpredictable vertigo attacks and fear of falling commonly lead to secondary anxiety or depression, which VA can service-connect.
What you'd need: A mental-health diagnosis and a nexus opinion tying it to the vestibular condition.