Parkinson's disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates related to Parkinson's disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection based on herbicide exposure during his Vietnam-era service at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Veteran's Parkinson's disease claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome was granted. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no basis for such claims based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's cause of death (end stage Parkinson's disease) is not service-connected. The VA pension benefits were properly discontinued due to the appellant's income exceeding the maximum allowable amount.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Veteran's glaucoma and Parkinson's disease are denied as they did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise unrelated to active service.,The Veteran's right upper extremity, left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied as they did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and Parkinson's Disease have been granted. The case has been remanded to obtain treatment records related to hypertension, which may be related to herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and tinnitus. The remaining claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. Parkinson’s disease is granted as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury. Tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10%. Reduced sense of smell and taste are not compensable. An effective date of April 20, 2015, but no earlier, for a higher rating of 30% for irritable bowel syndrome with GERD is granted. Right elbow cubital tunnel syndrome remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10%. The Veteran's appeal regarding right arm nerve damage (cubital tunnel syndrome) is remanded.

Service connection for early Parkinson's is granted from April 20, 2016 to June 19, 2019. Service connection for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded cases for service connection of various conditions claimed as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for brain ischemic disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (claimed as memory loss) is granted. The claim for dyslipidemia and Parkinson's disease are denied.

The Veteran's cognitive residuals of a small berry aneurysm, including stroke and depression, are rated at 50 percent from August 10, 2012. His nystagmus is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any condition and service or service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for extreme joint pain, COPD, rectal impact surgery, skin disorder (including malignant melanomas), and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease is also remanded as it requires an addendum opinion from the March 2013 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to missing Social Security records.