Va Parkinson Disease Rating Scale

How To Win Disability Benefits With Parkinsons Disease

April 19, 2021 By Jeremy Schooley

A diagnosis of Parkinsons disease can be life-changing. Parkinsons usually begins gradually and worsens over time. It is episodic and unpredictable. Symptoms are both obvious and hidden, and many are often underdiagnosed.

As it often advances into stages of disability and loss of independence, Parkinsons disease forces many people to stop working. If this is your situation, you may be eligible for vital disability benefits for Parkinsons disease, through the Social Security Administration , from private insurers, or from the Department of Veterans Affairs .

What many claimants are shocked to learn is that most disability claims based on Parkinsons disease are initially deniedsometimes in error, sometimes due to insufficient information, sometimes unfairly.

In this post, you will learn why many PD disability claims are denied, and how you can approach your claim most effectivelyso you can move forward to protect your rights and secure your rightful benefits.

Dont Overlook Special Monthly Compensation For Your Veterans Parkinsons Disease

Because Parkinsons is such a debilitating and rapidly progressing disease, most Veterans that have service-connected their Parkinsons Disease should be looking to see if they qualify for Special Monthly Compensation , for things like assistance with daily living, loss of use of an extremity, loss of use of a reproductive organ, loss of use of one of your major senses .

Last thing, before I shut this post downif a diagnosis with Parkinsons Disease catches you off guard and rattles you, consider this young mans story: Jorge Lacoste is an inspiration.

What If My Disability Rating Isnt High Enough

The higher your disability rating, the more Agent Orange compensation youll receive from the VA. This is why its important youre given an appropriate rating that reflects how much Parkinsons disease affects your ability to work and quality of life. If your disability rating from the VA is too low, request an appointment with one of our veterans attorneys. Theyll be able to help you collect and present the evidence you need to appeal the VAs decision.

A lot of veterans dont realize they can receive compensation for secondary disabilities, which are caused or worsened by service-connected conditions. For example, you may compensate for an injured leg by using the other leg more. Over time, the extra stress on your healthy leg can lead to injuries. Likewise, veterans with Parkinsons disease are more likely to develop cardiovascular problems and other secondary conditions.

Our attorneys know that filing a claim for secondary disabilities can help raise your overall rating. Schedule an appointment with our law firm today to get started!

Our VA disability lawyers in Kalamazoo, MI have years of experience working with veterans and their families. To request a free case evaluation, call the VA Disability Group at VET-LAWS.

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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.

Predictors Of Low Baseline Hrqol

Other important predictors of low baseline HRQoL in this study included reductions in S+E disability scores, and higher axial sub-scores . Though health-related quality of life and self-care ability in PD are inextricably linked to severity of motor dysfunction, the relationship between motor impairment and reduction in health-related quality of life may be complex and indirect, as demonstrated by our failure to find an independent relationship between UPDRS motor III sub-scores and HUI, after controlling for UPDRS-II and other scores. These results are consistent with previous findings that motor impairment in and of itself does not reduce health-related quality of life but the functional consequences of poor motor function including loss of self-care capabilities, inability to ambulate and loss of independence and its emotional consequences that may provide the link between physical impairment and low HRQoL .

Forsaa et al. prospectively followed patients for 4 to 8 years, with HRQoL measured using the Nottingham Health Profile , a validated generic instrument. This study found that the greatest predictor of reduction in HRQoL was decline in physical mobility , though depression and sleep disturbance were also important contributing factors Contrary to our findings, UPDRS-II sub-score was not found to predict reduction in HRQoL.

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How Much Does Va Pay For Parkinsons

The VA provides disability compensation for veterans with Parkinsons disease. The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the disability. It can be as much as $3,332.06 per month for a veteran with severe Parkinsons .

In addition to disability compensation, the VA also provides health care and other benefits to veterans with Parkinsons disease.

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.

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Factors Outside Of General Requirements

Outside of the general requirements to qualify for VA disability benefits in the first place, there are several factors the VA looks at.

These factors, taken as a whole, dictate the compensation rating you will receive. The benefits are distributed using a rate between 0% and 100% at 10% increments.

The VA uses a complex formula to make their determination. You can find the relevant factors . Still, here are some of the more notable factors that can increase your disability rating if applicable:

• If you are suffering from more than one disability at the same time
• If your Parkinsons disease worsens
• The way and degree to which Parkinsons is impeding your life and ability to work
• Changes in Social Security benefits to counter inflation
• If you have children, a spouse, and other dependents
• If your spouse or dependents have a disability and
• If you lose a limb or the ability to use a bodily function .

All of those factors will impact your VA disability compensation rating. After your initial rating, you can periodically apply to increase your rating.

Similarly, there are some circumstances in which the VA can lower your rating. Typically, rate reductions dont apply to Parkinsons disease claims because Parkinsons worsens over time. Still, it is something you should be aware of.

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Severity Of The Bradykinesia

At each affected location, the VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of the bradykinesia. Unfortunately, the VAs ratings tables can be difficult to interpret objectively.

For example, the VA rating table for arm paralysis that is used to rate bradykinesia assigns a rating of 20%, 40%, 70%, or 90% based on whether the bradykinesia is mild, moderate, severe, or complete, respectively.

Complete bradykinesia would mean loss of all, or substantially all, voluntary control over the region. This rating will be unlikely in all but the most serious cases. However, different claims adjudicators may interpret the difference between mild, moderate, and severe differently. This could result in the same manifestation being rated differently depending on which adjudicator reviews your claim.

The VA refers to this rating process as evaluation by comparison. Under the VAs regulations, the claim adjudicator is supposed to consider many factors in deciding the severity of a veterans bradykinesia. These factors include:

• The site and character of the bradykinesia.
• The relative impairment in motor function caused by the bradykinesia.
• Whether bradykinesia has caused atrophy.
• Sensory loss caused by bradykinesia.
• Whether the bradykinesia has resulted in complete or partial loss of use of the extremity.
• Speech impediments caused by bradykinesia.
• The impact of bradykinesia on the veterans gait.
• Whether the veterans bradykinesia is accompanied by tremors.

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What Is A Presumptive Condition

Presumptive conditions are medical conditions that the military acknowledges arise from a specific place and time in military service. Often they give this classification when a large group of service members is exposed to some sort of hazardous chemical during a specific conflict.

For example, for veterans of the first Gulf War, asthma is a presumptive condition due to the militarys use of burn pits in Iraq. Thus, a veteran of that war who develops asthma after their service has to demonstrate only that they served during that specific conflict to get VA disability benefits for asthma.

What To Do If Your Claim Is Denied

If your VA disability claim is denied, dont 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.

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Meeting Ssas Medical Listing For Parkinsonian Syndrome

With that in mind, the fastest way to win SSDI benefits for Parkinsons is to qualify under SSAs medical listing 11.06, Parkinsonian Syndrome. Qualifying under this listing requires detailed medical evidence. In brief, you need a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease, supported by medical records of symptoms including:

• Significant rigidity

• Tremors in two extremities

Your symptoms should also show difficulty with fine motor skills, large motor skills, standing, or walking. In addition to various test results, SSA will require your doctors responses to targeted questions concerning your PD, as well as proof of your adherence to prescribed treatment.

If you meet or equal the requirements of the listing, SSA will find you are disabled without considering your age, education, and work experience.

How The Va Grading System Works

Each application for VA disability benefits gets a rating. That rating then determines the total amount of benefits you will receive each month. The rating uses a percentage system. With a 100% disability rating, you will receive the maximum amount of compensation each month. Conversely, a 10% rating will net you much less.

You can always find current information on the VAs rating system on their website. Before you do that, however, here are the basics. The VA determines your VA disability rating by using a points system. The points are awarded based on several factors, including age, length of service, and the severity of symptoms.

The VA then uses a special formula to assign you an individual disability rating and an overall disability rating. Together, these determine your combined disability rating, which dictates your monthly compensation.

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Orthopedic Problems Related To Parkinsons Disease

While Parkinsons Disease is a neurological disorder, it can quite frequently cause orthopedic problems. Falls from Parkinsons are frequent, both from the movement symptoms as well as the orthostatic hypotension noted above. As Parkinsons frequently attacks the elderly, their bones may be brittle and easily break during a fall. To make matters worse, Parkinsons sufferers have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. This is believed to be due to a loss of bone mass resulting from the fact that PD sufferers tend to move around a lot less than non-sufferers.

In those sufferers who have had severe falls or needed spinal or other surgery, the tremors associated with Parkinsons often severely affect recovery, or make total recovery nearly impossible. A cast is designed to reduce movement of a recovering limb involuntary tremors are not helpful in this regard.

Psychiatric Problems and Parkinsons Disease

Both Parkinsons itself, as well as the medications used to treat it, can have severe psychiatric effects that can often be extremely debilitating. Dementia is common, and PD sufferers often experience cognitive problems, attention problems, as well as depression, anxiety, and even psychosis.

Other Issues related to Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons Disease: Symptoms And Treatment

There are quite a few different symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Experienced alone, you might brush off some of the symptoms as minor inconveniences. When the effects start to combine, however, they can significantly impede your ability to live a normal life.

As the symptoms combine, the disease moves into different stages, causing increasing impairment. Some of Parkinsons diseases early symptoms include minor things like:

• Changes in handwriting style, and

These are all early signs of Parkinsons disease. The symptoms worsen over time, leaving many affected individuals unable to walk at a certain point. As you can see, these early signs are hard to spot unless they combine with one another.

If you feel like you might have Parkinsons, it is critically important to seek a medical evaluation. After all, the VA will not approve your disability benefits application without an adequate medical diagnosis.

As noted, Parkinsons disease is not a curable disorder. Still, there are ways to treat the symptoms of Parkinsons and minimize its impact on your life.

Doctors often take a holistic approach to treating Parkinsons disease symptoms. Treatment may include physical therapy, surgery, and prescription medications. More often than not, doctors use several different treatments to mitigate the impact of specific effects.

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Validating The Berg Balance Scale For Patients With Parkinsons Disease: A Key To Rehabilitation Evaluation

• Abu A. QutubuddinCorrespondenceReprint requests to Abu A. Qutubuddin, MD, PADRECC/Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Rm 2C-144, Richmond, VA 23249Southeastern Parkinsons Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VADepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Southeastern Parkinsons Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VADefense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VA
• Southeastern Parkinsons Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VADepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Southeastern Parkinsons Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VADepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Parkinsons Disease And Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury occurs when brain function is disrupted by a traumatic event such as an IED blast, a gunshot wound, a car accident, etc. Rates of TBI among service members have increased substantially since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

VA diagnoses a veterans TBI as mild, moderate, or severe based on the severity of his or her symptoms. Importantly, if Parkinsons Disease develops at any point following a moderate or severe TBI, the veteran will be presumptively service-connected for it.

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Disability Benefits For Veterans With Parkinsons Disease

The minimum VA disability rating for Parkinsons disease is 30%. However, you must consider other important factors that can increase this rating to 100%. While you may be awarded 30%, that rating alone may be incomplete.

The 30% rating is the starting point. It is vital to make sure the VA completes its rating and evaluates each of your symptoms associated with PD. The VA then should calculate your rating using the combined rating for each symptom. These may include:

• Tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement in both upper and lower extremities
• Cognitive problems

• Facial muscle paralysis

Preparing For Your Appointment

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

Its 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 youve experienced. You also need to bring a list of any and all supplements, vitamins, and medications youre 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 theyll give you most of your disability ratings.

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Common Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

Because Parkinsons is a progressive disease, the symptoms vary in manifestation and duration. Listed below are signs of Parkinsons at the initial/mild stage, the secondary/moderate stage, and advanced stage. We also cover parkinson-like symptoms.

Initial/Mild Sign of Parkinsons:

• Rigidity stiffness & inflexibility of the limbs, neck & trunk
• Postural Instability tendency to be unstable when standing upright
• Change in posture and facial expressions

Secondary/Moderate Signs of Parkinsons:

• Freezing the temporary sensation of ones feet being glued to the floor

What Is The Musculoskeletal System For Va Rating Purposes

Your musculoskeletal system includes your bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. Your skeleton is the foundational structure for your muscles and other soft tissues. All these parts work together to support your body weight, maintain your posture, and help you move.

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Impairment Ratings And Veterans Parkinsons Disease

If you look for Parkinsons in the Impairment Rating Tables , you wont find a listing for Parkinsons Disease.

Theres 2 reasons for that.

First, the VA rates symptoms, not conditions.

Second, Parkinsons is one of those conditions that can have a LOT of residual symptoms it can affect every part of your nervous system: from information processing speeds, to gait/walk, speech, use of arms/hands, inability to process smells/odors, etc.

In the worst cases, we see Veterans with dementia that results from Parkinsons Disease, too.

So, how do you make sure that the VA properly rates your Parkinsons Disease.