Parkinson's disease decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for Parkinson's disease, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The previous denial remains final.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and theories of causation submitted after the appeal was certified, including exposure to mustard gas during service. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death remains under review.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a lack of medical evidence linking Parkinson's disease, which was diagnosed after service, to any in-service head injuries or other conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and chronic left ear disorder, but denied both on the merits. The veteran's symptoms are not shown to be related to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, PTSD, tremors (to include Parkinson's disease), headaches, and COPD. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service stressors or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of medical records and an opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected head trauma and his Parkinson's disease.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected brain concussion residuals, which contributed to the development of Parkinson's disease. The veteran's Parkinson's disease made him less capable of recovering from lobar pneumonia, leading to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a heart disorder, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.