Parkinson's disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease with right upper extremity tremor was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 6, 2017 and granted a 70 percent rating beginning on that date. The Veteran's right lower and left lower extremities have been each assigned 10 percent ratings for muscle rigidity due to Parkinson's disease since April 2, 2019.,The Veteran's Parkinson's disease with right upper extremity tremor was rated at the minimal level (30%) prior to April 6, 2017 and granted a higher rating of 70 percent beginning on that date. The Veteran's right and left lower extremities have been each assigned 10 percent ratings for muscle rigidity due to Parkinson's disease since April 2, 2019.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during service in Korea. The Board found that the Veteran served near the DMZ and was exposed to herbicides, leading to a presumption of service connection for his Parkinson's disease. As a result, the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found new evidence relevant to the claims, including medical records showing diagnoses of essential tremor and tinnitus. Service connection was established based on direct evidence.

The appeal for service connection of Parkinson's disease is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records after 2019 and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's need for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider service connection for the Veteran's tremors, which may be related to active duty service or herbicide agent exposure. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings in multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran and his spouse withdrawing their appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied. The Board also remanded several other claims related to her lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's Parkinson's disease and his exposure risk activities (TERA). An addendum medical opinion is needed.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during active service, and thus, denial of presumptive service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including generalized anxiety disorder, kidney disability, Parkinson-like symptoms, residuals of a stroke, right foot disability, skin disability, and vision disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to re-adjudicate his claims for service connection for Parkinsonism/tremors and multiple system atrophy cerebellar. The issues are now remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the verification of the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for esophageal cancer is granted based on credible testimony regarding Gulf War smoke inhalation.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to obtain VA medical opinions and to review additional pertinent evidence, including VA treatment records from January 2017 to May 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for parkinsonism was granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because it has been fully granted.

The Board has denied service connection for Parkinson's Disease, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and hypertension as these conditions are not related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the previous decision denying service connection for Parkinsonism (claimed as Dystonia) was incorrect due to a duty-to-assist error and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective July 3, 2018. The effective dates are based on the date of receipt of an intent to file a claim and not necessarily when the conditions were first experienced or diagnosed.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, cognitive disorder, constipation, anosmia, urinary disorders, erectile dysfunction, neurological disorders of the extremities, orthostatic hypotension, and sleep disorder are all granted as related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD is denied.