Offical Rating For Parkinsons

[donna68]

HERE IS IMPORTANT INFO FOR A HIGHER RATING FOR PD

PARKINSON’S DISEASE ALSO CALLED PARALYSIS AGITANS

With the exceptions noted, disability from neurological diseases and their residuals may be rated from 10 percent to 100 percent in proportion to the impairment of motor, sensory, or mental function. Consider especially psychotic manifestations, complete or partial loss of use of one or more extremities, speech disturbances, impairment of vision, disturbances of gait, tremors, visceral manifestations, etc., referring to the appropriate bodily system of the schedule. Note: The visceral manifestations of this disease are few, with chronic constipation and loss of intestinal tone being the most common. Other manifestations should be rated separately (see some examples below).

Diagnostic Code Schedule Name (Analogus/Other name) Rating

8004 Paralysis Agitans (Parkinson’s)

Minimum Rating 30%

9400-9440 Mental Disorders

Total occupational and social impairment 100%

Due to symptoms of impairment of thought

Process, communication, delusions,

hallucinations, grossly inappropriate

behavior, disorientation to time, place…

Occupational and social impairment W/ 70%

Deficiencies in most areas

Due to symptoms of suicidal ideation,

Obsessive rituals, speech illogical,

impaired impulse control, neglect of personal

hygiene, difficulty adapting to stressful

situations

Occupational and social impairment W/ 50%

reduced

Due to symptoms of flattened affect, panic attacks

more than once a week, impaired short term or

long term memory, impaired judgment or thinking,

disturbances in motivation reliability

and productivity

Occupational and social impairment W/ 30%

occasional decrease in work efficiency and

intermittent periods of inability to perform

Due to symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety

suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less),

chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss

Occupational and social impairment W/ mild 10%

or transient symptoms, or controlled by continuous medication

7203 Esophagus, Stricture (Choking)

Permitting passing of liquids only 80%

W/impairment of health

Severe permitting liquids only 50%

7319 Irritable Colon Syndrome (Constipation)

Severe, diarrhea or alternating with constipation, 30%

W/ more or less constant abdominal distress

Moderate, frequent episodes of bowel 10%

disturbance with abdominal distress

Mild, disturbances of bowel function with 0%

occasional episodes of abdominal distress

7336 Hemorrhoids

W/persistent bleeding w/ anemia or fissures 20%

Large or thrombotic, irreducible W/ excessive 10%

redundant tissue, evidencing frequent recurrences

Mild or moderate 0%

7522 Penis, w/ loss of power (Erectile Dysfunction)

Diagnosis SMC + 0%

W/ deformity 20%

4.115 a Voiding Dysfunction

Requiring an appliance of absorbent materials 60%

which must be changes more than 4 times a day

Requiring the wearing of absorbent material 40%

which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day

Requiring the wearing of absorbent material 20%

which must be changed less than 2 times per day

Rating Residual Disability 30 Percent or More

In cases of multiple sclerosis (PD or paralysis agitans should also follow this guideline)

• evaluate each affected system or body part separately
• show the diagnostic code for multiple sclerosis/PD only once by listing it with the most severely affected function
• code involvement of other manifestations thereafter under the DC assignable for the condition on which the evaluation is based, and
• show the remaining conditions as secondary to multiple sclerosis/PD. .

Important: Re-rate cases previously rated as a single disability as they are encountered under the procedure outlined above.

VBA CASE EXAMPLE

http://www.va.gov/vetapp09/files1/0903196.txt

http://www.va.gov/vetapp11/Files1/1102268.txt

Papa,

Boy this has been a long fight for you - but finally, some positive outcome

with your VBA adjudication. The 30% may not seem like much when you're

having all of these medical problems and I think you will get higher than this

down the road a bit.

Other's will chime in regarding your percentage and what you can do - I just wanted

to let you know that I'm very glad that at least now it's SC'd at 30% and not denied

or a lower percentage.

You WILL climb that percentage ladder - because unfortunately, of your medical needs

and most likely additional secondary disabilities due to the Parkinson's.

For now, I say good job - you really hung in there and stood strong.

[john999]

Appeal! Get some IMO's if possible.