Parkinson's disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson’s Disease and diabetes mellitus (type II) are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure. The claim for diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also remanded.,A cardiovascular examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The effective dates of his service connection awards remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson’s disease and secondary disabilities is granted with an effective date of July 7, 2009. The Board also finds the Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of July 7, 2009 for SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disability, Parkinson’s disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip, squamous cell carcinoma of the left ear, left knee disability, tumor on the chin, and facial tumor as there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to ionizing radiation.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson’s Disease, including as secondary to herbicide exposure during his service at Takhili RTAFB in Thailand, has been reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions and need for additional evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremors on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand.

The Veteran died in 2013 and the Appellant filed for DIC benefits. The Board denied her request to have the effective date of the DIC award prior to August 4, 2017.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure is not clear, and a further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, speech impairment, hypertension, memory and cognitive impairment, and depression as secondary to Parkinson's disease due to in-service exposure to chemical solvents and jet fuel.

The Veteran is granted higher levels of SMC based on anatomical loss of both feet, need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than bilateral knee amputation, and additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more. The highest level of SMC awarded is SMC-N.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS as secondary to Parkinson's Disease.,VA denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for GERD, finding that it was received more than one year after his discharge from service.,VA denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for Parkinson’s Disease and related disabilities, stating they were received more than one year after his discharge from service.,The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine the severity of the Veteran's GERD, Parkinson’s Disease, mild balance impairment as secondary to Parkinson's Disease, and mild left upper extremity tremors with mild muscle rigidity and stiffness as secondary to Parkinson's Disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (gunshot wounds, diabetes, and Fragile X Syndrome) rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board denied entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's Disease and PTSD due to lack of diagnosis and found that the Veteran was already receiving a combined disability rating of 90%.

The Veteran died from anoxic encephalopathy due to aspiration of a foreign body caused by Parkinson's disease. The Board denied service connection for cause of death as the Veteran was not shown to have had Parkinson's disease in service or otherwise related to service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating from October 22, 2018. The ED issue is still pending and has not been rated compensably.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and evaluation of various conditions due to the absence of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of all issues related to increased ratings for various disabilities, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for hearing loss, bilateral upper and lower extremity impairments due to Parkinson's disease, and an earlier effective date for service connection of depression.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for Parkinson’s disease should be remanded due to insufficient evidence, and a new examination is required.