Parkinson's disease decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran did not have Parkinson's disease during service or within one year of discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is deciding the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, a cognitive disorder, and prostate cancer. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but it remains pending on its underlying merits.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of PSP or Parkinson's disease as a result of service, and there is no evidence to support a finding that his condition was caused by chemical exposure during service. The claim for service connection has been denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage dementia with dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia, which is service connected due to a traumatic brain injury sustained in service. The cause of death is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are granted service connection as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease is not related to his service-connected residuals of right mandible fracture due to head injury, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, but denied the claim as there was no direct or presumptive link between any service-connected condition and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his WPW Syndrome was denied as the evidence did not show he had permanent atrial fibrillation or at least one to four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records, arranging for a VA examination, and reviewing the claims file to ensure all requested actions have been completed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for residuals of a right clavicle fracture and Parkinson's disease during a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right tibia chip fracture did not cause or contribute to his death due to a blunt force head injury. The Board concluded that there was no reasonable possibility of obtaining additional evidence that would aid in substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tuberculosis, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues of service connection for sleep apnea and Parkinson's disease are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and mood disorder) due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.