Parkinson’s Disease Disability Benefits from the VA

If you served in the military and you believe you may have Parkinson’s Disease, you may be wondering, “Does Parkinson’s qualify for VA disability?” The answer is yes, especially if you served in Vietnam or Korea.

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological condition that affects nearly a million people in the US and more than 10 million people worldwide. It causes instability, muscle tension, weakness, and a variety of other complications.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is a nervous system disorder that worsens over time and impacts the way you move. The disease causes tremors, stiffness, and weakness of the muscles. Although Parkinson’s symptoms may start out mild, they grow progressively worse over time, and we currently do not have a cure. 

When the disease first develops, you may notice that your face shows less expression and your arms swing less when you walk. You may have trouble enunciating words, and you may notice tremors in your hands. Even though there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, certain medications can help you manage your symptoms.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

One of the earliest symptoms of Parkinson’s is a tremor or shaking, usually beginning in your hands. You may notice yourself rubbing your thumb and forefinger back and forth like you’re rolling a pen between your fingers. Over time, this tremor may turn to painful, stiff muscles that limit your range of movement.

As your muscles tense up, your posture may worsen, and you may have balance problems. You might have trouble blinking, smiling, and performing other unconscious movements. You might also notice your handwriting changing and your tone of voice becoming more monotone as the disease progresses.

Bradykinesia and Parkinson’s

One of the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease is bradykinesia, or slower movement. This symptom is so integral to the disease that, in order for a diagnosis to even be considered, you must have bradykinesia and either a tremor or muscle stiffness. The reduction in automatic movements (blinking and swinging your arms when you walk) that comes with Parkinson’s is a part of bradykinesia.

As a part of bradykinesia, you may notice that you have difficulty initiating movements, such as when you go to get out of a chair. You may notice that you walk slower and shuffle your feet more. This may also lead to you having difficulty buttoning a shirt, cutting food, or brushing your teeth.

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

Scientists still aren’t sure what causes a person to develop Parkinson’s disease, but they do know what causes the symptoms. Parkinson’s Disease causes certain nerve cells in the brain to break down and eventually die. This causes your brain to stop producing dopamine, a hormone associated with happiness and normal brain function. 

Researchers believe there may be a genetic link that contributes to a person developing Parkinson’s Disease. This link is rare, however, and only shows up consistently in families where many members have suffered from Parkinson’s. They also believe that exposure to certain environmental factors, including toxins like Agent Orange, can cause Parkinson’s to develop.

One of our VA disability lawyers talks about the presumptive conditions list for Agent Orange.

Risk Factors for Vets

There are a few factors that can increase your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. First among these is age; young people rarely develop Parkinson’s Disease. The disease generally starts presenting in middle age, around 60 or so, and gets worse as you age.

If you have a history of Parkinson’s in your family, you may be at greater risk of developing the disease. Men are more likely than women to develop Parkinson’s, with more than 63 percent of Parkinson’s patients being men. People who have been exposed to herbicides and pesticides, including Agent Orange, are also at greater risk.

There is still research ongoing about links to Parkinson’s and burn pits and Gulf War syndrome. The important thing about getting your VA disability application in is that sometimes new discoveries only apply to people that get their applications in before a certain date or policy change.

Parkinson’s Disease might just be part of your VA disability claim if you were near burn pits during your service. Here is a video detailing burn pit claims.

Complications of Parkinson’s

Along with the instability and stiffness that Parkinson’s Disease causes, there can be a number of other complications that may arise. Dementia and other cognitive issues can begin to show up in the later stages of the disease. You may also experience depression, anxiety, or loss of motivation as the disease affects the way your body produces dopamine.

As automatic movement control lessens, many Parkinson’s patients find themselves on thickened liquid diets, since the disease can cause problems with chewing and swallowing. Sleep disorders, including waking up during the night or early in the morning, as well as acting out in your dreams, are common. Blood pressure changes, fatigue, pain, and sexual dysfunction are all common complications, too.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome VA Disability Benefits

Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease

Because Parkinson’s is such a nebulous disease, there is no specific test to diagnose it. A neurologist will review your medical history and your symptoms. There are certain markers they look for to diagnose Parkinson’s, including the bradykinesia we discussed earlier.

Your doctor may want to perform some brain scans, including a dopamine transporter scan. They may also use blood tests, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds of the brain, and PET scans to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. They may also give you a large dose of medication used to treat Parkinson’s Disease to see if your symptoms improve while you’re on the medication. 

What to Expect at Your Appointment

When you first begin the Parkinson’s diagnosis process, you’ll need to visit your primary care physician. From there, they may refer you to a neurologist if they think your symptoms may indicate Parkinson’s disease. A neurologist specializes in nerve disorders, especially those that affect the brain.

At your appointment, your doctor will ask you a number of questions about your medical history. They’ll want to know when your symptoms began, whether the symptoms come and go, and if anything seems to improve your symptoms or make them worse. Depending on what they find, they may want to order some of the additional tests we discussed.

Preparing for Your Appointment

When you’re getting ready for your appointment, it’s a good idea to jot down a list of all the symptoms you’re experiencing. It can be tough to remember every incident that’s happened when you’re sitting in the exam room. So make a list of every unusual symptom you’ve been having, no matter how unrelated or trivial it may seem. 

It’s also a good idea to write down your complete medical history so you are prepared to discuss it with your doctor.

Include any recent life changes or severe stresses you’ve experienced. You also need to bring a list of any and all supplements, vitamins, and medications you’re currently on. You might also want to write down a list of questions to ask your doctor during the appointment.

Here are some tips for your C&P Exam where they’ll give you most of your disability ratings.

Qualifying for VA Disability

If you get diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you’ve completed the first step to qualifying for VA disability compensation. In order to qualify, you need to do three things. Get a diagnosis, point to an event in your service record that could have caused your condition, and prove a medical connection between the two.

There are some exceptions to this rule, called presumptive conditions, which we’ll discuss later.

Once you have a diagnosis, you must be able to show proof that during your military service, there was an incident or circumstance that could have caused your condition. Your doctor will then need to confirm that this incident or circumstance was likely what triggered your condition. For instance, even if you had a brief back strain during basic training, you can’t claim VA disability for paralysis that was the result of a car accident twenty years after you left the service.

VA Disability Rating Schedules

If your application gets approved, your condition will be evaluated on a disability rating schedule. This system is designed to give the VA a way to objectively measure how severely your condition impacts your life. Your disability rating will determine how much monthly compensation you receive from the VA.

Parkinson’s Disease carries an automatic 30 percent disability rating under the VA schedule. However, this does not account for all of the symptoms you may experience because of your condition. Each of your symptoms will receive its own disability rating, and these will be combined to get your overall disability rating.

How to Do VA Math with the VA Combined Ratings Table

Disability Compensation

Once you have your total disability rating from the VA, that percentage will be used to determine your monthly compensation. Compensation for disability ratings of 30 percent or higher also depends on how many people financially rely on you. If you have a spouse, parents, and children who are all dependent on you for income, you will get a higher compensation amount each month.

With a 30 percent disability rating and no dependents, you will receive $467.39. If you have dependents, you could receive more each month.

Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your
combined VA rating and monthly payment

Presumptive Conditions

We mentioned earlier that some conditions are exceptions to the standard VA requirements. These conditions, called presumptive conditions, do not carry the same burden of proving a service connection. If you served under certain conditions during your time in the military, specific medical conditions will be presumed to have a connection to your service.

Parkinson’s Disease is considered a presumptive condition for those who Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone where Agent Orange was used. Those who served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 may also have a presumptive connection. Traumatic brain injury, service around burn pits, and exposure to other herbicide agents can also provide a presumptive connection. 

How To Apply For VA Benefits: A Guide For Disabled Veterans

Important Tips for Applying for Disability

When you’re applying for VA disability compensation, one of the most important things you can do is not delay. As soon as you begin showing unusual symptoms, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. Delaying your diagnosis could lead to serious problems with your claim down the road. 

It’s also a good idea to keep copies of all the paperwork, files, and evidence you send to the VA for your claim. Files get lost in the shuffle sometimes and having copies of your service record, your C file, and your medical history can come in handy. Make sure you also show up on time for all exams and hearings during your application process.

What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied 

If your VA disability claim is denied, don’t worry – you still have avenues to appeal that decision. If needed, you can even appeal your case up to the BVA in Washington, D.C. The most important thing is to stay organized and refuse to take no for an answer.

If your claim has been denied, it may be a good idea to hire a lawyer who specializes in VA disability compensation to help you with your case. There are a number of deadlines, loopholes, and requirements that can be tricky to navigate on your own. Not only can an experienced lawyer help you win your appeal, but they may also be able to get you more compensation than you thought you were owed. 

Here is what we do to help you with your VA disability appeal.

So Yes, Parkinson’s Does Qualify for Disability?

Yes, it qualifies, we just have to work on getting it service-connected for you. Parkinson’s disease is a presumptive condition for those who served around Agent Orange or at Camp Lejeune. But even for veterans who don’t meet that qualification, you can still qualify for disability compensation.

If you’d like to get help in filing and appealing your VA disability benefits claim, get in touch with us at Woods and Woods. We fight for veterans every day, and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Contact us today to start getting the disability compensation you’re entitled to.