Parkinson's disease decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and atypical Parkinson's disease due to inadequate medical opinions regarding aggravation by service-connected conditions or medication.

The Board found that Parkinson's disease was not related to service or a head injury, and the tremors were not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected post-traumatic headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's findings and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 60 percent for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is currently under review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity impairment due to Parkinson's disease, and facial nerve impairment have been granted. The initial ratings assigned are 40 percent for right upper extremity impairment and 30 percent for left upper extremity impairment, all due to Parkinson's disease. Effective dates prior to December 4, 2007, have also been established.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus, type II. The case will be remanded for a VA examination and further analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is therefore entitled to the presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a personal hearing due to his inability to attend early morning hearings.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides. Service connection for hypertension was not established as it did not manifest within a year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome with supraventricular tachycardia does not render her unemployable due to the disability alone, as she has other conditions and factors that prevent employment. The AMC determined that the preponderance of evidence did not indicate she was unemployable solely due to her service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and verification of exposure to pesticides during service.

The Veteran's cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma, is not service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran's death was unrelated to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have any residual disability as a result of head trauma sustained in service, and therefore, denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his thoracolumbar spine disorder was granted, with a current rating of 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence supported reopening and granting service connection for nerve damage, right arm numbness, reduced leg strength, and headaches as part of new and material evidence.

The Veteran met the minimum criteria for schedular TDIU prior to November 1, 2012 and was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that evidence for and against the claim is at least in approximate balance.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of March 19, 2002 for the service connection awards for Parkinson's disease, right upper extremity tremors, muscle rigidity and stiffness, and loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Veteran died from sepsis due to Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's dementia. The Board finds that the cause of death (Parkinson's dementia) at least contributed to his death, but there is no evidence of service connection for Parkinson's disease or any other condition causing his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease, which was not service-connected during his lifetime due to lack of evidence on the list of presumptive diseases at that time, may have contributed to his death from a motor vehicle accident. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Parkinson's disease affected his ability to react quickly enough to avoid the accident.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% before June 27, 2012. The initial ratings for Parkinson's disease in the upper and lower extremities and facial muscles were denied.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and Parkinson's disease due to exposure of Agent Orange. Both conditions are presumed to have been incurred in active military service.