Parkinson's disease decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty for training in the summer of 1986. The evidence did not support a link between his ACDUTRA and the onset of his WPW.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence linking Parkinson's disease to his active duty service. The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is also denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for Type Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease, all claimed as secondary to chemical exposure in Guam. The claims are being remanded due to the need for a VA compensation examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a movement/neurological disorder, claimed as Parkinson's disease, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and served in the Vietnam era. The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records to verify any service in the Republic of Vietnam or its inland waterways, scheduling a VA neurological examination, and verifying the etiology of the Veteran's Parkinson's disease.

The Board found no evidence of Parkinson's disease and concluded that the Veteran's current symptoms are more likely related to anxiety, beta blocker medications, an essential tremor, and cerebral vascular disease rather than his military service.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if VA hospital care, medical treatment or examination caused additional disability or death. The appellant claims the Veteran died due to lack of proper care at a VA facility and substandard care at a private nursing home.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the manifestations do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding whether Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death was caused by Parkinson's disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death and also granted burial benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPWS) was denied. The claim for a temporary total (convalescent) rating following surgery in October 2004 remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and atypical Parkinson's disease have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Board requires additional VA examinations to determine the onset of these conditions, their relationship to service, and whether they are related to permethrin exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower extremity tremor and decreased facial expression was granted effective from February 15, 2007. The initial rating assigned is 80 percent for excessive daytime sleepiness.,Earlier effective dates of March 31, 1998, and October 14, 1998, were also granted for the service connection of right lower extremity tremor and decreased facial expression respectively.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary atherosclerosis, which is presumed to be related to his service-connected PTSD and the addition of ischemic heart disease to the list of presumptive diseases. The Board finds that service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the passage of time since his last examination for his service-connected GERD and Parkinson's disease. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as it was incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The respiratory disorder claim is remanded for further development.