Parkinson's disease decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's Parkinson's disease contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether it was related to service.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, or gastroparesis claims. His Parkinson's disease, eye disorder, and hypertension claims are denied.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease was not incurred in service and is not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis with pharyngitis, Parkinson's disease, bilateral cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone are sufficient for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease with essential tremors and memory loss, to include as due to lead exposure is being remanded for further development of records and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after his military service. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of shrapnel wound left knee, status post left knee total replacement was granted but the Veteran is still seeking a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is causally related to his in-service exposure to chemicals, including Malathion and HTH. As such, service connection for Parkinson's disease is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are not related to service, while his neck disability is related. The claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a choreiform disorder, including Parkinson's disease, is granted on the basis of exposure to herbicide (Agent Orange). The Board finds that his condition is related to his diagnosed neurological disorders due to his exposure to Agent Orange in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's physiological tremors are related to his service-connected heart disorder and medications, including beta blockers. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his complete service personnel file, verify herbicide exposure in Korea, and schedule VA examinations for Parkinson's disease, skin disability, and hypertension. The claims will be readjudicated based on all theories of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed in his claims, and therefore, denied all of them.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The Board will schedule the Veteran for such a hearing.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether any service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and the appellant has failed to provide evidence that any negligence or fault on VA's part proximately caused his death.

The Board has determined that there is equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is related to his in-service head injury, and thus grants service connection for Parkinson's disease on an accrued benefits basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and conflicting information regarding Vietnam service. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease are being reviewed with a focus on whether these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neurologic disability, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, was not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.