Parkinson's disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features is currently rated at 50 percent, and a separate compensable rating of 30 percent for Parkinson's disease (residuals) has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for throat disorder/hoarseness and memory loss due to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf, and granted service connection for Parkinson's disease.,Service connection is established for Parkinson's disease as it is linked by competent medical evidence to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Type II diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (BPNLE), prostate problems, Parkinson's disease, and memory loss, all claimed as related to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in the Korean DMZ during service. The conditions have been rated at 10% disabling.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and Parkinson's disease were not found to warrant a higher initial rating, with the current 20% rating for the lumbar spine condition remaining unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's terminal coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease were due to in-service exposure to herbicides during his military service and were substantial factors in his death.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides or radiation in Vietnam. The diseases are presumed by law to be related to such exposures, but there is no evidence of actual exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of meningitis, recurrent pneumonia as secondary to meningitis, neurological deficits (including Parkinson's Disease and epilepsy) as secondary to meningitis, and multiple system involvement (including the prostate) as secondary to meningitis.

The Veteran died of pneumonia, which was not service-connected. The Board found no causal link between the Veteran's PTSD and his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his alleged exposure to chemicals other than herbicides during active duty. Further development is needed, including obtaining records from the Joint Services Records Research Center and any relevant facilities, as well as VA examinations.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, a service-connected disability, was found to have contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death due to an automobile accident. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Given this exposure, service connection for Parkinson's disease is granted.

The Veteran's WPW syndrome is no longer present, and the current cardiac symptoms are due to a nonservice-connected condition. The claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability other than WPW syndrome has been remanded.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a neurologic disorder (to include Parkinson's disease), a headache disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and a heart disorder. The Veteran did not have any of these conditions during service or within one year after separation, and the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred in service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 27, 2010 for the awards of service connection for Parkinsonian tremors and has reopened the previously denied claims for bilateral knee disorder and seizure disorder. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.