Parkinson's disease decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure during active military service, even though there is no record of such disease during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his Parkinson's disease, finding that the symptoms and related mild impairment shown were encompassed by the current 30 percent rating assigned.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, specifically his exposure to Agent Orange while stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The AOJ will also determine if he was exposed to Agent Orange at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease, including as due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for additional development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service exposure to hazardous chemicals, including TCE at McConnell Air Force Base.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not experience additional disability related to his March 2010 VA cardiac catheterization as a result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault by VA medical personnel. The additional disabilities are considered reasonably foreseeable complications of the procedure.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions associated with Parkinson's disease have been denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms and lack of evidence supporting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myotonic dystrophy type 2 and Parkinson's disease were denied. The left knee disability was not rated higher than 10 percent, and the anxiety disorder NOS did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent. The TDIU claim prior to March 27, 2012, was also denied.

The Veteran's death was due to multiple terminal conditions, including Parkinson's disease and complications from C. difficile colitis/sepsis, acute kidney injury, and pancytopenia. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease, dysphagia, bladder outlet obstruction, tremors of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and dementia of the Alzheimer's type were rated based on their individual disabilities. The appellant was granted an initial evaluation for each condition with specific ratings.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Parkinson's disease, alleging exposure to chemicals and PCBs during his active duty at Fort McClellan. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the extent of any such exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to burial benefits. The issue of accrued benefits is remanded as it was not properly addressed in the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of in-service exposure to herbicides and radiation, as well as a VA examination to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have in-country service in Vietnam, and thus could not be presumed exposed to herbicides. The Veteran's Parkinson's disease was not incurred or caused by his active duty service.,The Veteran's ED is not due to any incident of active duty service, nor was it caused or aggravated by a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's current Parkinson's disease is caused by a TBI during service and therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for supranuclear palsy as Parkinson's disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and concluding that the Veteran did not have Parkinson's disease prior to his death.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's service and complete his STRs, as well as seek out records of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt during relevant time periods.