Parkinson's disease decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for Parkinson’s disease, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, headaches, and depressive disorder. The issues of an increased rating for TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected supraventricular arrhythmia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the May 26, 2020 rating decision.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for laryngectomy status post throat cancer and Parkinson’s disease. However, the Board found no medical opinion linking these conditions to service or any other etiology provided in the record.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection, and the left femur fracture with slight shortening of left leg issue is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's death did not result in any unpaid VA benefits, and the appellant does not have a valid claim for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ALS was granted with an effective date of March 15, 2016. The decision also addressed his claim for Parkinson's disease and found that it encompassed a claim for ALS.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependency causes or aggravates his Parkinson's disease. The case is now pending further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the feet, finding that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not cause a loss of use of his lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Parkinson’s disease and associated tremors in the right arm, hand, leg, and foot are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his active service.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease with left lower extremity impairment, right upper extremity impairment, and left upper extremity impairment are all denied as the criteria for a higher evaluation have not been met. The impairment of the seventh cranial nerve to include drooling is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, Sleep Apnea, and Hypertension due to incomplete development. The issues of increased ratings for Parkinson’s disease residuals are also being remanded.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has determined that the April 2019 examination is incomplete and requires a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from a neurologist. The examiner must address whether Parkinsonism and related symptoms are caused by the March 2009 right ankle surgery, if any additional disability was proximately caused by VA care, and if any identified additional disability is due to an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, dementia, a psychiatric disorder other than dementia including PTSD and depression, and a back disorder due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Parkinson’s disease has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.