Parkinson's disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hypotension, dysphagia, muscle weakness, hyperplasia of the prostate, bilateral lower extremity corns and callosities with dermatophytosis, bilateral lower extremity metatarsalgia, Parkinson's disease, anemia, hepatitis C, transient ischemic attack, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, thrombocytopenia with melena, and mixed hyperlipidemia and hyperbilirubinemia due to inadequate medical opinions based on the absence of contemporaneous documentation in service records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during active duty in Thailand.,A higher rating for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for Parkinson's disease, hypertension, prostate cancer, and loss of teeth are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection. The heart disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and Parkinson's disease with hand tremor as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's active service or herbicide exposure.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been granted as service connection is established based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran is being asked to provide additional medical records related to his service-connected Parkinson's disease and recent hospitalizations. The SMC based on aid and attendance appeal will be remanded for further development.

Service connection for ischemic heart condition and residuals of prostate cancer is granted pursuant to the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia is remanded.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and its associated conditions, including weakness of the lower and upper extremities as well as impairment of cranial nerves. The effective date is set at May 24, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Parkinsonism and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or chemical or environmental toxins. The RO must verify the Veteran's claimed exposures, obtain his service treatment records from October 2, 1959 to September 30, 1964, and provide a new VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of his Parkinsonism and PSP.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various Parkinson's disease residuals were denied. The highest possible rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome, and the Veteran is already receiving that maximum rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient STRs and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tremors (claimed as suspected Parkinson's disease) is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability, and the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge. The Board found that the Veteran was diagnosed with essential tremor in 2012, which is not related to his active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is denied because there is no evidence of a chronic low back disability during or immediately after service, and the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge. The Board found that the current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is more likely related to his occupation as a mail handler.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and left knee degenerative joint disease have been granted service connection. However, the rating for his lumbosacral strain with arthritis remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve neuropathy associated with Parkinson's disease have been denied.,The Veteran's initial ratings for Parkinson's disease with bradykinesia or slowed motion, balance impairment, muscle rigidity, stiffness, and tremors of the right and left lower extremities remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus type II are granted based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicides in Guam. The claims for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to potential Vietnam service.

The Veteran died during the appeal process, and as a result, the claim for service connection for essential tremors (claimed as Parkinson's disease) is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to April 23, 2021 were productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is also granted.