Parkinson's disease decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for anxiety and remanded his claims for Parkinson's disease and acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure in Korea. The Veteran is also requested to provide more specific information regarding incidents that occurred during service, including proximity to enemy fire and escorting dead bodies.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease / coronary artery disease (claimed as heart condition), and Parkinson's disease on the basis of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran served in Thailand with duties near the perimeter of Korat RTAFB where he was exposed to herbicide agents. His conditions are considered presumptively related to this exposure.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's Parkinson’s disease is related to exposure to herbicides and contaminants at Wurtsmith Air Force Base during service.

The Board dismissed all issues in the Veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of the appeals for all issues at the BVA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease due to a lack of evidence establishing a link between his current conditions and military service. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to provide information about chemicals he was exposed to during service, as well as medical records from private providers. A VA examination will also be scheduled.

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for ischemic heart disease, denied the TDIU claim prior to August 3, 2017, dismissed the TDIU claim on or after August 3, 2017, and granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) effective March 18, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for some conditions, but denied for others. The appeal is granted to the extent of reopening and granting of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities. Service connection was denied for Parkinson’s disease, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, heart disability, constipation, GERD, neurogenic bladder, TIAs, left face drop (facial palsy), vocal cord dysfunction, left upper extremity atrophy, right upper extremity atrophy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. Service connection was not granted for sleep disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions was granted. An initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted, while a higher rating for major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson’s disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Thai Royal Navy Airfield.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for neurological disability of the lower extremities other than Parkinson's disease and rating claims. Effective dates are also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded other issues due to insufficient evidence. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as glaucoma (eye disability), paronychia/onychia, sleep apnea, colon polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver cancer and Parkinson’s disease have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,VA has acknowledged that the Veteran was potentially exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, but the evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or a relationship between his claimed conditions and this exposure.