Dont Forget Tdiu If The Veterans Parkinsons Disease Precludes His Or Her Ability To Work
Young Onset Parkinsons is typically accompanied by a longer and slower decline in physical and mental capabilities than traditional onset.
However, if a Veterans Parkinsons Disease limits their ability to engage in substantially gainful activity, that Veteran should definitely consider applying for a 100% rating regardless of the rating for the Veterans Parkinsons disease based on Total Disability/Individual Unemployability.
These types of claims SEEM easy, but often require that a Veteran understand:
Causes Of Parkinsons Disease
In spite of decades of study, the causes of Parkinsons have yet to be determined but we do know of several risk factors. Many experts believe Parkinsons may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but these can vary case by case. Physical injuries to the brain have also been linked with neurological conditions.
Va Disability Compensation For Veterans With Parkinsons
What are Veterans Affairs disability compensation benefits?
VA disability compensation benefits are monthly, tax-free, benefits that are paid to U.S. military veterans with disabilities that are connected to their active duty military service. These benefits are administered and paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .
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Veterans Exposed To Toxic Chemicals At Military Bases Risk Developing Parkinsons
Accumulating evidence suggests that long-term exposure to trichloroethylene may cause deficits in energy, mood, memory, attention, and psychomotor functioning. In addition, some research suggests that exposure to TCE is associated with a significantly increased risk of Parkinson’s diseasea nervous system disorder that deteriorates a persons ability to control their movement over time.
Parkinsons disease can be difficult to initially detect as early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. Unfortunately, no cure for Parkinsons disease exists today, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and maintain a good quality of life.
Researchers based their studies on previous findings, which show that exposure to environmental toxins may raise the risk of developing the disease by increasing the rate of oxidative stressan imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity, which can lead to cell and tissue damage. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons leading to neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Va Medical Care And Treatment For Pd
This page provides the location of the six PADRECCs, links and phone numbers to learn more about PADRECCs, check your eligibility for VA care, and apply.
There is also information about veterans’ eligibility to participate in research studies, including the Parkinsons Foundation PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinsons Disease study, with links to learn more and to sign up.
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What Is Va 38 Cfr
You may have heard of VA 38 CFR if youre a veteran. But what is it? VA 38 CFR is the Veterans Affairs Code of Federal Regulations. It contains laws and regulations governing the VA, including how veterans provide benefits. The regulations in VA 38 CFR are designed to ensure that veterans receive the care and benefits they need and deserve.
They cover a wide range of topics, from eligibility for benefits to the types of care and services the VA provides. If you have any questions about your benefits or the care youre receiving from the VA, you can always refer to VA 38 CFR.
Why Was It So Important To You To Move Quickly And To Make Sure That You See A Parkinsons Specialist
Jay Phillips, Army
My first diagnosis came from a regular neurologist, not a movement disorder specialist, who immediately started me on carbidopa/levodopa. As a treatment, that’s what we call the gold standard drug. But I learned about three months after that, when I got a second opinion, that it perhaps wasn’t the best thing to have started me off on right away because my tremors were minimal and because of the possibility of long-term side effects. So, I decided to join a support group early on where I was exposed to a lot of other patients and I could see how complicated PD is and how everyone is taking different medications for different symptoms. At that point, I decided to seek out expert care.
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What Impacts Parkinsons Disease Va Disability Benefits
There are several factors that can impact your disability benefits rate. Since there are too many potentially relevant factors, we will discuss some of the more common ones.
First, however, we need to look at the general requirements for VA disability benefits eligibility. If you dont fulfill these requirements, the VA will deny your claim in all likelihood.
To meet eligibility requirements for VA disability benefits, you must establish the following:
Next, you need to show that your condition was related to your military service. You must submit the following:
Essentially, you have to prove that you served in the military, suffered from some illness or event, and subsequently developed a disability because of your military service.
How To Win A Parkinsons Disease Va Rating
If you are a veteran with Parkinsons, you may be wondering how to win a Parkinsons disease VA rating.
Even if you have a Parkinsons diagnosis from a civilian doctor, the VA will still require you to provide additional evidence to justify a Parkinsons disease VA disability rating.
If youre not approved or feel like your disability rating is too low, you have the right to appeal the decision. The appeals process can be complex, so seeking expert help is advisable.
Winning a Parkinsons disease VA rating can be challenging, but its possible with the right evidence and support.
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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.
Parkinsons 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 Is Parkinsons Disease Related To Military Service
Parkinsons disease is a neurological condition that affects movement. The disorder develops when nerve cells in the brain die or become impaired. Parkinsons disease can cause tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. The exact cause of Parkinsons disease is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
It is believed that exposure to certain toxins, including pesticides and herbicides, may increase the risk of developing Parkinsons disease. Military service is also a risk factor for the condition. Veterans are more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than the general population. It could be due to exposure to toxins or head injuries sustained during military service.
There is no cure for Parkinsons disease, but treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment for Parkinsons disease typically includes medication and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to improve symptoms.
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What Is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, and is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder of aging. Parkinsons affects the nerve cells in the substantia nigra area of the brain that produce dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As Parkinsons progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally.
Risk Factors Associated With Military Service
A number of potential environmental risk factors may increase the risk of developing Parkinson disease for veterans. Perhaps the most commonly recognized is pesticide exposure, particularly given the presumptive service connections established by the VA for Parkinson disease and exposure to Agent Orange or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.52,53 Both dioxin, the toxic ingredient in Agent Orange, and the solvents trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, interfere with mitochondrial function leading to oxidative stress and apoptosis of nigrostriatal neurons.54,55 Other potential exposures, which are not necessarily limited to the veteran population, include rotenone, a phytochemical used to kill fish in reservoirs, and paraquat, an herbicide that may directly promote synuclein aggregation.56,57 Veterans who have reported exposure to these or other environmental chemicals in civilian life should be carefully assessed for the presence of motor PD or prodromal features.
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Some General Notes On Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder. That means that it adversely affects your brain.
Specifically, Parkinsons disease impairs your brains ability to produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine affects everything from movement and balance to concentration and mood.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinsons disease at this time. Thus, it makes sense that Parkinsons disease qualifies as a disability in the eyes of the federal government.
The Department of Veterans Affairs , the Social Security Administration , and the U.S. Department of Labor all consider Parkinsons disease a covered disability under their respective programs.
Is It Hard To Get Disability For Parkinsons
If you have Parkinsons disease, you may wonder if you qualify for disability benefits. The process can seem confusing, but the reality is that it is possible to get a disability for Parkinsons.
The first step is to gather medical evidence documenting your condition. It can include your diagnosis, medical nexus letter, records from your doctor, therapy notes, and test results. Once you have this documentation, you must file a claim to the VA. The review process can take several months, but you will begin receiving monthly payments if your application is approved. If you are considering applying for disability benefits, it is important to understand that the process can be lengthy, but it is possible to get approved.
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Parkinsons Disease As A Presumptive Condition
In a 2009 report, scientists working for the federal government that connected Parkinsons disease to Agent Orange.
As a result, in 2010, the VA added Parkinsons disease to the presumptive condition list associated with the Vietnam War. The disease was also added to the list of presumptive conditions associated with two other places and times:
Thus, if you are suffering from Parkinsons disease and fall into any of these categories, initially applying for VA disability benefits is a straightforward process.
Exposure To Trichloroethylene Is Associated With An Increased Risk Of Parkinson’s Disease
Chemical exposure can lead to various chronic health conditions that worsen over time and require years of medical management. For example, accumulating evidence suggests that long-term exposure to low levels of trichloroethylene may cause deficits in energy, mood, memory, attention, and psychomotor functioning. In addition, some studies in humans suggest that exposure to TCE might lead to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers based their studies on previous findings that show exposure to environmental toxins may raise the risk of developing the disease by increasing the rate of oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, leading to cellular damage. For example, oxidative stress plays an important role in the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons leading to Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in the part of the brain that controls movement. It is a chronic and slowly progressive disorder, which means that the symptoms get worse over time. There are five different stages of Parkinson’s disease that measure the severity of symptoms knowing your own individual risk factors can help you detect symptoms in the beginning stages.
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Statements About Personal Situations And Hypothetical Benefit Questions
Many commenters made general statements about their own personal difficulties battling one or more of the presumptive diseases. Another commenter inquired as to the possible implications of Bradley v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 280 . The commenters who inquired about Bradley asked whether, hypothetically, an IHD disability rating in addition to another disability that meet the statutory criteria under 38 U.S.C. 1114, could potentially establish eligibility for special monthly compensation.
VA Response: Comments regarding hypothetical situations involving the possible outcome of benefit claims or the medical or claims history presented by individual veterans are beyond the scope of this rulemaking. Claimants should contact their VA regional office for assistance with their individual claims.
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Tabloid: Putin Gravely Ill With Parkinsons Disease
A report in the British tabloid The Sun claims leaked Kremlin emails confirm Russian President Vladimir Putin is gravely ill with Parkinsons disease.
Speculation about Putins health have been circulating for months.
Jonathan Sanders, former CBS News correspondent and professor of journalism at Stony Brook University, joined Banfield on Wednesday to discuss The Sun report and who might succeed Putin when he eventually leaves office.
Watch his full interview in the video above.
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What Went Through Your Mind Thinking About Life Beyond Diagnosis Did You Experience Depression Or Anxiety
Lou Eisenbrandt, Army
Yes, I remember spending two days on the couch curled up in a fetal position. It that caught me by surprise when I finally worked my way out of the depression because I had never experienced it before. Once I started reading more about Parkinsons, I realized that many of us are not depressed because of our diagnosis but because we dont have enough dopamine. I usually say Im running a half court low. I learned that you shouldnt be ashamed of taking antidepressants. Ive really been on them since day one, and Ive been living with this for 19 years.
Quality Legal Assistance For Veterans And Family Members Who Struggle With Parkinsons Disease And Were Exposed To Pfas
Since 1990, we have been helping victims of toxic exposure recover the financial compensation they deserve and are bound to provide you with quality legal assistance if you are eligible so that you can receive the money you are entitled to for your diagnosis of Parkinsons disease. If you or a family member has this diagnosis as a result of having been stationed at a military base contaminated with PFAS, our skillful team will do all in their power to obtain the compensation you are entitled to. While the legal process is quite complex, it will require minimal involvement on your part. As a veteran, you will only have to retrieve your military records and your medical records and send these documents to our experienced attorneys. If you are a veteran, your claim will also be filed with the VA so that you can receive disability compensation. Eventually, you may obtain the most favorable outcome for your case if you opt for filing your toxic exposure claim with our assistance.
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Do You Have Ascertainable Residuals Of Parkinsons Disease
If yes, then you must receive a minimum 30% rating under Diagnostic Code 8004 .
What is an ascertainable residual?
A very basic explanation is that an ascertainable residual is a symptom you can see or that are capable of lay observation. Things like gait, tremors, speech, loss of smell, dementia, et cetera.
Which brings us to the next Step.
Agent Orange & Parkinsons Disease
Agent Orange was used in chemical warfare during the Vietnam War. Since then, Vietnam veterans have developed a variety of symptoms related to Agent Orange exposureincluding Parkinsons Disease.
There is research that is starting to show exposure to certain chemicals do cause Parkinsons Disease, and some of those chemicals such as TCE and PCE have been found in the water of Camp Lejeune. There is also evidence that Agent Orange herbicide exposure causes Parkinsons, which the VA has now conceded. Parkinsons Disease is one of the presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange that the VA recognizes.
According to the Parkinsons Foundation, the main chemical in Agent Orange, called dioxin, is the main culprit in causing disease.
Agent Orange has also been linked to respiratory cancer, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and chronic b-cell leukemias. This service connection is particularly prevalent for Vietnam War veterans.
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