Parkinson's disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's Disease as secondary to his service-connected TBI and/or adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety is being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requests a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease with fasiculation-cramp syndrome and depressive disorder are granted service connection, while the compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the August 2019 remand directives and has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease are related to his military service, including any exposure to electromagnetic radiation or chemicals/toxins.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's disease and Barrett's esophagus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disability, Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder related to his in-service experiences, which is considered direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease and diabetic neuropathy necessitate the use of knee braces, which cause damage to his clothing. The Board has granted a clothing allowance for these knee braces in calendar year 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, a prostate condition, and heart bypasses are denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining justiciable issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and a cardiac disability must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to noise during service, but there are insufficient records of asbestos exposure in his military history. Further development is needed to verify these exposures.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and related symptoms are being remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding medical records from a private neurologist.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC were not met.

The Veteran's Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome has been manifested by no worse than one to four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Parkinson's disease and secondary complications was denied as there is no legal basis to assign such a date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's widow is now the substitute claimant, and another remand is necessary as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's left upper extremity disability, due to a gunshot wound, is not shown to have resulted in complete paralysis during the appeal period.,The Veteran's right upper extremity disability, due to Parkinson's disease, did not meet criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has decided that the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and Parkinson's disease should be remanded due to new evidence being added to the file by VA.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson's disease due to exposure to herbicide agents during his time stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower left and right extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as Parkinson's disease, due to presumed herbicide agent exposure during active duty in Vietnam. The case is returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for essential tremors claimed as Parkinson's disease, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.