Parkinson's disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted effective dates of August 3, 2010 for various service connection awards related to the Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and associated disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left leg disability, right leg disability, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease), Parkinson's disease, hairy cell leukemia, and acquired psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variably diagnosed as PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is also granted. The appeal for service connection for Parkinson's disease due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's diagnosed disability and determine its relationship to service. The case is being remanded for further clarification of the Veteran’s diagnosed disability, including treatment records and an examination.

The Board has denied service connection for retinal disease, hypertension, kidney disease, skin cancer, Parkinson's, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as these conditions are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active duty at Fort Drum in 1959 and that this exposure is presumed to be related to the development of Parkinson's Disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and further development is required, including obtaining complete study from the NIH and Air Force manual cited by the neurologist.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease, dysarthria, dysphagia, left upper arm weakness, right upper arm weakness, loss of use of the left lower leg, loss of use of the right lower leg, and other specified sleep-wake disorder (insomnia) are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also eligible for automobile or adaptive equipment assistance.

The Board found that the original award of service connection for Parkinson's disease was not clearly erroneous and restored the benefit, reversing the severance decision.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for multiple sclerosis is granted. The issues of service connection for Parkinson's Disease, speech condition, memory loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (dementia), bilateral leg condition, and breathing condition are remanded.

The Veteran died in September 2007 from end-stage Parkinson's disease. The Appellant filed an informal claim for service connection for the cause of death on November 17, 2014, and was granted service connection with an effective date of November 17, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Parkinson's Disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides containing dioxin during his TDY in Guam. The diabetes is presumed due to herbicide exposure, as is the Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and essential tremors are found to be related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's private medical treatment for his service-connected Parkinson’s disease on October 13, 2015 was not covered by VA because it did not meet the criteria for emergency care or pre-authorization.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hepatitis C and initial rating increases for Parkinson's disease, as well as TDIU. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.