Parkinson's disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further consideration of his claim, including any higher ratings for service-connected stooped posture, right upper extremity tremor, right lower extremity tremor, mild sleep disturbance, and mild sexual dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease, including as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and benign essential tremors of the right and left upper extremities due to herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The appellant was found to have served in Vietnam during his TDY assignment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his complete service personnel file, verify any heavy metal exposure during service, and provide an opinion on the likelihood of current disabilities being related to in-service duties.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including Parkinson's disease, tremors, heart damage, dementia, lung damage, and kidney damage, were not caused by VA's negligence or lack of proper skill in providing surgical care. The anastomotic leak was a foreseeable complication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records related to Parkinson's disease and any SSA records. An addendum opinion from the October 2016 VA examiner will be obtained regarding the etiology of his alcohol and cocaine abuse disorders. A VA psychiatric examination will also be conducted to consider the severity of all service-connected psychiatric disabilities in determining whether they impact substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his Parkinson's disease. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders and sleep disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which resolved in favor of granting SMC based on aid and attendance prior to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection was also granted for Parkinson's disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.,Service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease was not incurred or aggravated in service, nor is it presumed to have been due to herbicide exposure. The Board found no credible evidence of actual exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease was etiologically related to in-service exposure to hazardous chemicals, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran was denied service connection for Parkinson's disease as due to herbicide exposure because there is no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, and the claim is not based on a presumption.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and headaches are found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus. Parkinson's disease is not established as a result of herbicide exposure or service connection.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection as it may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to acute cardio-pulmonary failure, dementia, COPD, Parkinson's disease, and anemia. The Board found that the service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's Parkinson's Disease and Ischemic Heart Disease are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's right upper extremity impairment due to Parkinson's disease is rated at 70 percent since November 15, 2006.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance will be addressed after rating assignment.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of entitlement to service connection for numbness and tingling of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, balance problems, a skin condition, residuals of a left great toe injury, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and Parkinson's disease; as well as an initial increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder.