Parkinson's disease decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding it presumptively related to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam era.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted. He does not meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and Parkinson's disease as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand, as provided by the PACT Act.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, obstructive airway disease (claimed as respiratory disorder), and earlier effective dates for PTSD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, and benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 for Dependents Education Assistance. The Board has also referred the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer, prostate cancer, and Parkinson's Disease as due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Thailand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination. The Board has also decided to remand the claims of service connection for MSA, Parkinsonism with memory loss secondary to MSA, abducens nerve palsy secondary to MSA, autonomic disorder secondary to MSA, axonal neuropathy secondary to MSA, cognitive brain disorder secondary to MSA, cervical spine disability secondary to MSA, coordination/balance disorder secondary to MSA, dysphagic and choking secondary to MSA, fatty liver/pyelonephritis secondary to MSA, fracture rib disability secondary to coordination/balance disorder due to MSA, frontoparietal volume loss secondary to MSA, and hypertension (HTN) secondary to MSA. The claims are being remanded for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hypothyroidism and bilateral eye vitreous floaters due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.,Service connection for Parkinsonism with essential tremors (previously claimed as Parkinson's disease) is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that his exposure to neurotoxic chemicals during military service is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.

The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Service connection is granted based on presumed exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of reopening his Parkinson's disease service connection is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the benefit of doubt given to his claim.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease are granted as service connected due to exposure to contaminants during active duty at Fort Dix.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his congenital aortic bicuspid valve was not the primary or contributory cause of his death and that his cardiovascular diseases were more likely caused by other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his conditions and his service-connected disabilities, as well as incomplete records. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of his Parkinson's Disease and an updated opinion on whether his obstructive sleep apnea is related to any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for head and neck cancer, diagnosed as mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his condition and military service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board finds a VA examination necessary to address these issues.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease are granted service connection as they are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The bilateral eye disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, enlarged heart, respiratory disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), neurological disorder (Parkinsonism), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's service connection for an enlarged heart, respiratory disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), neurological disorder (Parkinsonism), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinsonism is being remanded due to a duty to assist error related to the alleged exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's ED, urinary incontinence, mental manifestations associated with Parkinson's disease, symptomatic orthostasis, left upper and right upper extremity tremor and rigidity are all granted as secondary to the service-connected condition of Parkinson's Disease.,Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.