Parkinson's disease decisions — 2019

The claim for service connection for a right heel disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is being remanded for further examination and analysis.,The claim for service connection for a left heel disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is being remanded for further examination and analysis.,The claim for essential tremors, claimed as Parkinson's disease, secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded for further examination and analysis.,The claim for vitiligo and skin rashes, claimed as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, and skin cancer due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the 'l' rate for PTSD and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) due to his need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor. The claims for secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis and direct service connection for DM and Parkinson's disease were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed at RTAFBs in Thailand. The cause of death is also considered due to these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective September 24, 2014. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date than this date have not been met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for anxiety and remanded his claims for Parkinson's disease and acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure in Korea. The Veteran is also requested to provide more specific information regarding incidents that occurred during service, including proximity to enemy fire and escorting dead bodies.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease / coronary artery disease (claimed as heart condition), and Parkinson's disease on the basis of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran served in Thailand with duties near the perimeter of Korat RTAFB where he was exposed to herbicide agents. His conditions are considered presumptively related to this exposure.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's Parkinson’s disease is related to exposure to herbicides and contaminants at Wurtsmith Air Force Base during service.

The Board dismissed all issues in the Veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of the appeals for all issues at the BVA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease due to a lack of evidence establishing a link between his current conditions and military service. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to provide information about chemicals he was exposed to during service, as well as medical records from private providers. A VA examination will also be scheduled.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions.

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for ischemic heart disease, denied the TDIU claim prior to August 3, 2017, dismissed the TDIU claim on or after August 3, 2017, and granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) effective March 18, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for some conditions, but denied for others. The appeal is granted to the extent of reopening and granting of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities. Service connection was denied for Parkinson’s disease, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, heart disability, constipation, GERD, neurogenic bladder, TIAs, left face drop (facial palsy), vocal cord dysfunction, left upper extremity atrophy, right upper extremity atrophy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. Service connection was not granted for sleep disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions was granted. An initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted, while a higher rating for major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson’s disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Thai Royal Navy Airfield.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver cancer and Parkinson’s disease have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,VA has acknowledged that the Veteran was potentially exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, but the evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or a relationship between his claimed conditions and this exposure.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure along the perimeter of Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, where he regularly walked and worked.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and military service or herbicide exposure.