Parkinson's disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, right and left foot peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, tinnitus, bowel disturbance, and cognitive impairment, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 4, 2018 for the Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease with impairment of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for arthritis of the legs and retina myopathy have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure, but has remanded issues related to acquired psychiatric disability, dysarthria, dementia, aneurysms, COPD, and enlarged prostate.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's current diagnosed conditions and his military service, including exposure to contamination or toxins. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and Parkinson's disease due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is also granted for other trauma and stressor related disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea will be remanded as secondary to the service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends is due to Agent Orange exposure or his service-connected psychiatric disorder, has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's Parkinson-like symptoms and essential tremor of the hands are being remanded for further development as they may be related to presumed herbicide exposure, but a VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition in the record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, and chronic kidney disease due to herbicide agent exposure are all granted.,Service connection is also granted for hypertension under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The AOJ is instructed to investigate whether members of the 1st Mobile Communications Group were sent on temporary duty assignments to Vietnam during the relevant time period.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure is granted.,Service connection for hypertension (claimed as hypertension with high cholesterol) is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for a disability manifested by tremors, to include Parkinson's disease, is remanded.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease and ischemic heart disease, both presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand. Service connection for memory loss and delirium was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease affecting the right upper extremity, right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and left upper extremity was denied as there were no statements or communications indicating an intent to file a claim prior to December 21, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease affecting sleep was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for moderate impairment of sleep.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease affecting chewing and swallowing was denied as it did not manifest with moderate incomplete paralysis of the tenth cranial nerve.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease affecting bowels and constipation was denied as there were no frequent episodes of bowel disturbance.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease including erectile dysfunction was denied as there was no penile deformity.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease affecting sense of smell was denied as it did not manifest with a complete loss of sense of smell.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological condition, shaking hands (construed as a claim for Parkinsonism), finding that there is no evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed condition and service.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it likely related to in-service environmental exposures as a firefighter.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, PTSD, and Parkinson's disease. The effective date was set at January 22, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the USS Lexington, was denied because there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The Board found that the deck logbooks did not show the presence of herbicide agents on board the USS Lexington or that the ship was within 12 nautical miles offshore of Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease due to presumed exposure under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, including WPW and PVCs, finding that the condition pre-existed service and was not aggravated by military service.