Huntingtons Chorea

[Cammy]

My brother was diagnosed with Huntingtons Chorea. My Grandfather had it and my Father has it and the disease is hereditary. My brother is trying to show that the Huntingtons may have been present while he was in the Navy (end of enlistment discharge in 1990). He has a letter form a neurologist that states the disease more than likely could have been detected while he was on AD and because it was not he was naot able to recieve treatment before or after dischrage.

Has anyone ever delt with a Huntingtons claim? This is a rare disease but I'm hoping someone has had some experience.

[Berta]

This recent BVA decision (link below)shows how the VA handles this type of claim:

"In general, congenital or developmental abnormalities are not

diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable

legislation concerning service connection.

See 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303©, 4.9 (2007); see also Winn v.

Brown, 8 Vet. App. 510, 516 (1996), and cases cited therein.

However, VA General Counsel has held that service connection

may be granted for hereditary diseases which either first

manifest during service or which preexisted service and

progressed at an abnormally high rate during service.

See VAOPGCPREC 1-90 (March 16, 1990); VAOPGCPREC 67-90 (July

18, 1990); VAOGCPREC 82-90 (July 18, 1990

http://www.va.gov/vetapp08/files3/0820145.txt

[Pete53]

Nice to see you posting again. I think that the only way that will work is if your brother can show that his service aggravated the problem.

[jbasser]

Cammy, Sorry to hear the news.

Huntingtons is a progressive disease.

I have been around it because a Friend that is in the later stage and is in a nursing home.

There is copious amounts of info on the web about the stages of this dreadful disease.

A good arguement is that this diseased needs to have the same presumptive criteria as ALS.

Both diseases end up paralyzing the diaphragms and the Patient usually gets pnumonia.

J