Parkinson's disease decisions — 2000

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the appellant's service records and the need for further development, including verification of his reserve duty service prior to June 1987.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome should be December 18, 1996 as it is one year prior to the veteran's formal claim in February 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to Parkinson's disease, which was not caused by any service-connected condition. The appeal is also pending regarding an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, dysentery, and malaria for accrued benefits purposes, as well as DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The case is being remanded to clarify the appropriate diagnostic criteria for rating the veteran's service-connected Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and to consider whether an increased rating is warranted under either Diagnostic Code 7010 or 7015.

The veteran has been granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson's disease.,Service connection was established for PTSD based on direct evidence of a link between the veteran's in-service stressors and his current symptoms. Service connection for Parkinson's disease is secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's Parkinson's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and a need for an independent medical opinion was not shown.

The veteran's service-connected Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation has been denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a left thumb disability and Parkinson's disease, as well as declined to reopen previously denied claims for other conditions. The decision was based on the absence of medical nexus between these disabilities and the veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA neurological examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's Parkinson's disease. The MROC is also instructed to ensure that any requested development is completed and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease as they are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for colon cancer, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, and high cholesterol, all claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has granted service connection for several conditions and assigned ratings, including a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine effective March 8, 1995.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical services provided from December 18, 1996 to December 19, 1996 is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his claim regarding an effective date prior to February 5, 1997, for the grant of service connection for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The case has been remanded to the RO for issuance of a statement of the case and further action.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his substantive appeal, making the March 1994 rating decision final.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the June 19, 1981 rating decision which denied service connection for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. As a result, an effective date of June 28, 1980 is granted.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the previous final decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disorder diagnosed as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied. The RO is also remanding the claims for eye, lung, liver, and skin disorders secondary to mustard gas exposure.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of the need for aid and attendance of another person is well-grounded, as he requires regular assistance due to his disabilities.