The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings related to Parkinson's disease, as well as special monthly compensation for the Veteran’s surviving spouse.
The deciding factor: The Veteran met eligibility criteria for a presumptive diagnosis of Parkinson's disease on August 31, 2010, one year prior to his claim submission in May 2015, and thus was entitled to an earlier effective date under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Parkinson's disease (residuals, muscle rigidity and stiffness, loss of use of the bilateral feet, dysphagia, impaired speech), loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities, loss of use of the bilateral upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035716
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dysphagia and remanded the claims for residuals from a colon tumor, gallbladder removal, papillary urethral carcinoma, and heart disability due to potential exposure to herbicide agents and ionizing radiation.
- Granted
The Veteran's dysphagia, diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene, and GERD were granted a 30 percent rating from June 30, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining a TERA memorandum and new medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, deviated nasal septum, and kidney stones while denying service connection for hearing loss, dyspepsia, left thumb ganglion, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, and allergic rhinitis. The Board also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for tension headaches.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.