Parkinson's disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service in Thailand and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Service connection is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease is denied as not related to service, and the claim for TDIU is also denied due to lack of evidence showing unemployability from his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hand tremors and Parkinson's disease, as well as peripheral neuropathy, all presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for a liver condition is not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied reopening the claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for Parkinson's disease was also denied as there is no service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents, and the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits in an amount higher than $11,988.00 due to the Veteran's death and her inability to manage VA benefits.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, but denied them on the merits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, shoulder disability, prostate disability, residuals of right lower inguinal injury, eczema, bilateral foot fungus, ulcers, GERD, Parkinson's disease, and COPD.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease, and various neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and CAD, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service at the Udorn RTAFB and therefore, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease are presumed to have been incurred in active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Veteran's child is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because she was over the age of 26 at the time her father became permanently and totally disabled.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease has worsened, and the Board is remanding his case for a new VA examination to assess the current condition of this disability. Additionally, the TDIU issue will be remanded as it is intertwined with the rating increase claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with neurocognitive impairment from Parkinson's disease is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective July 13, 2010. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is not caused or aggravated by exposure to any chemicals or hazardous substances stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and therefore service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the claim as moot since the grant of service connection for Parkinson's disease rendered the other issue moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is related to herbicide exposure during service, specifically Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for PSP is granted.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which the Board finds to be presumptively related to his in-service herbicide exposure. Therefore, service connection for Parkinson's disease is granted.

The Veteran's hypophonic speech was initially rated as 10 percent disabling effective April 5, 2010. The rating has been increased to at least 30 percent from June 7, 2011.