Results of C&P Exam for Parkinson's Disease

[JJardon]

I had this C&P exam back in January 2016, I have not yet received a rating for this exam.  Currently, I'm at the baseline 30% for Parkinson's which I was given when I won my case at the BVA in July 2015.  Does anyone have a guess to what my new rating will be? Once I receive my new rating I will update this post.

 

1. Diagnosis

Does the Veteran now have or has he ever been diagnosed with Parkinson's

disease (Paralysis Agitans)? Yes

 

ICD Code: G20

 

Date of Diagnosis: 11/2011

 

2. Dominant hand: Right

 

3. Motor manifestations due to Parkinson's or its treatment (check aII that apply)

 

Stooped posture

[X] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Balance Impairment

[ ] None [ X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Bradykinesia or slowed motion (difficulty initiating movement " freezing, " short shuffling steps)

[ ] None [X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Loss of automatic movements (such as blinking, leading to fixed gaze; typical Parkinson' s faces)

[ ] None [ ] Mild [X] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Speech changes (monotone, slurring words, soft or rapid speech)

[ ] None [X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Tremor (characteristic hand shaking, "pill-rolling")

[X] Yes [ ] No

      Extremities affected:

      Right Upper:

       [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [X] Severe

     Left Upper:

     [ ] Not affected [X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

     Right Lower

     [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [X] Moderate [ ] Severe

      Left Lower

      [ ] Not affected [X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Muscle rigidity and stiffness

[X] Yes [ ] No

     Extremities affected:

     Right Upper:

     [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [X] Severe

     Left Upper:

     [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [X] Moderate [ ] Severe

     Right Lower

     [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [X] Severe

     Left Lower

     [ ] Not affected [ ] Mild [X] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

4. Mental manifestations due to Parkinson's or its treatment

Depression

[X] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Cognitive impairment or dementia

[ ] None [ ] Mild [X] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

5. Additional manifestations,/complications due to Parkinson's or its treatment

Loss of sense of smell

[ ] None [ ] Partial [X] Complete

 

Sleep disturbance, (insomnia, day-time sleep attacks)

[ ] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [X] Severe

 

Difficulty chewing,/ swallowing

[ ] None [X] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Urinary problems (incontinence or

[X] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Constipation (due to slowing of GI tract or secondary to Parkinson's medications)

[X] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

Sexual dysfunction

[X] None [ ] Mild [ ] Moderate [ ] Severe

 

6. Financial responsibility

In your judgment, is the Veteran able to manage his,/her benefit payments in his,/her own best interest, or able to direct someone else to do so?

[X] Yes [ ] No

 

7. Functional impact

Does the Veteran's Parkinson's disease impact his or her ability to work?

[X] Yes [ ] No

 

If yes, describe impact, providing one or more examples:

Veteran reports increased sleep disturbance and requires nonconsecutive work schedule days. Veteran reports difficulty manipulating computer mouse at work.

[JJardon]

I received my rating today.  I was rated at 100%, retroactive back to January 2012.

Here is the breakdown:

1. Service connection (SC) for Parkinson's Disease to include balance impairment and bradykinesia with tremors and muscle rigidity, right upper extremity due to chemical exposure is granted with an evaluation of 50% effective 1/24/12.

2. SC for dementia to include insomnia (sleep disturbance) is granted with an evaluation of 50% effective 1/24/12.

3. SC for tremors and muscle rigidity, right lower extremity is granted with an evaluation of 30% effective 1/24/12.

4. SC for tremors and muscle rigidity, left lower extremity is granted with an evaluation of 20% effective 1/24/12.

5. SC for tremors and muscle rigidity, left upper extremity is granted with an evaluation of 20% effective 1/24/12.

6. SC for facial dyskinesias is granted with an evaluation of 10% effective 1/24/12.

7. SC for loss of sense of smell is granted with an evaluation of 10% effective 1/24/12.

8. SC for dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is granted with an evaluation of 0% effective 1/24/12.

9. SC for dysphasia (speech impairment) is granted with an evaluation of 0% effective 1/24/12.

......................................................................................................................................

I hope this help anyone diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease after their service.  Ignore the 1 year rule.  PD begins several years prior to you ever noticing anything is wrong. Research the prodromal period in PD.  There are over 40 symptoms that can be signs of early Parkinson's.  They can begin up to 20 years prior to the disease being diagnosed. Most will appear 5-7 years prior to the most recognized symptoms.  For me it was the lost of smell soon after I retired. My lawyer was able to cite case law that linked my symptoms during the prodromal period back to my time in service. 

The chemical exposure is undefined, but I worked with Jet Fuel JP-4, JP-8, JPTS, MOGAS, and Diesel fuels.  Along with using herbicides around fuel storage areas.

[Berta]

Was this an AO exposure award?

I see you had only 2 posts on the claim here....sorry we  missed it and didnt chime in sooner...

When Parkinsons Disease was added in 2010 to the AO presumptives, there was a lot of discussion here and at other sites as to how VA would rate it and no one had a definitive answer then.

You have good advice here that many need to read.

"My lawyer was able to cite case law that linked my symptoms during the prodromal period back to my time in service. " GREAT!!!!!

Did you also have a strong independent medical opinion?

This is very good news!

 

[JJardon]

It was not an Agent Orange related award nor was it TBI.  I served from 1983 to 2005.  When I did my research everything I found was seemed to be AO related.  My diagnoses (@ age 47) was for Early Onset Parkinson's.  I had free DNA testing done by 23 and Me that showed I did not have any predisposition for Parkinson's, there is no family history either.  The first recognizable Parkinson's symptoms began appearing in late 2009 early 2010.  When I could no longer write without pushing my right hand  across the page with my left hand and I had a resting tremor, I decided it was time to see the doctor.  Diagnoses s/b 11/2010.

My doctor's letter was about three lines long, it simply said: " that it was his belief that Mr. J...... had Parkinson's Disease several years prior to his diagnoses."  I don't belief anyone read that letter until it got to the Board.  Despite the fact that he is a leading doctor in the field.  Prior to the Board the VA only cited the opinion's of the Physician Assistant (from Physical Therapy) who did my first P&D and medical records review.  She had the correct facts, but was able to draw completely wrong conclusions/opinions from those facts.  They are actually funny to read if you know about the disease.  In my initial appeal, I presented the doctor's letter and evidence showing that each of her conclusions where incorrect, but was still turned down.    That's when I got the lawyer from the state capital of KS.