Parkinson's disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease as secondary to herbicide exposure, but the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and sleep disorder related to burn pit exposure are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on the PACT Act, but has remanded the issues of service connection for Parkinson's disease and its secondary hand and leg cramps.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease and has determined that new evidence received since the last denial supports this claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is a qualifying chronic disability under the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act, as it became manifest during active duty in Southwest Asia and was related to exposures experienced during deployment.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity are each granted a rating of 30%, 40%, 40%, and 40% respectively.,A 70% rating is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (sleep disturbance and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood).

The Veteran's stooped posture associated with Parkinson's disease is rated at 10 percent prior to July 15, 2014 and denied for higher ratings thereafter.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has Parkinson's disease and whether his diagnosed neurobehavioral effects are related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appeal will be reconsidered after this examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records related to the Veteran's Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Parkinson's Disease with bladder dysfunction, loss of sense of smell associated with PD, and speech changes associated with PD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and lack of supporting medical records. The Veteran needs to provide private medical records confirming a formal diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, including those from Dr. Aminoff.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to a service-connected disability. The tremor disability (likely Parkinson's disease) is not found to be related to active service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. The claim is being remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for Parkinson's Disease is remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and Parkinson's disease are granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure during his time stationed at Andersen AFB, Guam.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for Parkinson's disease with right upper extremity weakness, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated severe, incomplete paralysis throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require a higher level of aid and attendance, necessitating personal health-care services provided on a daily basis by a person who is licensed to provide such services. The Board has granted the increased SMC (r)(2) based on this need.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, due to exposure to tactical herbicide agents (Agent Orange), is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, and skin cancer have been granted. The claim for skin cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's heart disability and Parkinson's disease are remanded for further development, including verifying service dates and obtaining a VA medical opinion on the etiology of his heart disabilities. The claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition did not increase in severity during his period of active duty. The Veteran's disability was determined to be unrelated to military service.