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AO Parkinson Like symptoms

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David Northcutt

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A neurologist at the VA has diagnosed me with Parkinson like symptoms.    However, the VA disability also asks for information as to  what the doctor based their diagnoses on.  Does anyone know any physicians that have studied Agent Orange and would be qualified to diagnose and give supporting documentation for the toxic exposure of AO.

I live in Houston and I am at a loss of where to go to find a doctor outside the VA to give a second opinion and to support their opinion if they concur with the VA doctor. 

 

David

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In 2016 ,the IOM Report mentioned in this article, gave a strong suggestive reason for Parkinson-like symptoms ,along with other disabilities that they found to be as potentially linked to Agent Orange exposure.

 

 

https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2016/report-shows-stronger-link-between-agent-orange-exposure-and-some-diseases/

 

Secretary Wilkie has done nothing yet to add any new presumptives to the Presumptive AO list.

 

VA will service connect full blown Parkinsons in any veteran exposed to Agent Orange.

 

This more recent article has more info,indicating VA is exploring this situation more.

 

https://www.stripes.com/after-18-months-of-study-va-delays-adding-new-agent-orange-illnesses-1.495773

 

This links claims they have listed here - 793 neurologists in Houston:

https://www.vitals.com/neurologists/tx/houston

You can use the search and filter button on the site to narrow it down.

 

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Also it is possible that a service connected medication you take would cause Parkinsons -like symptoms:

https://dailycaring.com/medications-may-cause-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease/

If a service connected medication causes an additional disability, the VA would rate the secondary disability it caused.

This site narrows down some neurologists in Houston  who diagnose and treat Parkinsons.

https://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/houston-tx_city.htm

However the VA will not SC "parkinsons like" symptoms- they will service connect diagnosed Parkinsons.

Maybe at some point the limited but suggestive evidence ( in the 2016 IOM report) will get more attention from the Secretary- but, if you have only a diagnosis of Parkinsons-like symptoms, I feel you should still pursure the claim, as, it could become full blown Parkinsons, ( maybe it is now- so you do need an Independent medical opinion) and it would be important to have the claim filed if it does go onto the AO presumptive list.

 

I assume you are a Vietnam in -country Veteran.

This article by a veteran's lawyer gives some good pointers on how to handle the claim.

https://veterans.perkinslawtalk.com/post/parkinsons-disability-va-claims-without-a-diagnosis/

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To add -if a doctor states that you have "early onset Parkinsons", that is a lot better than having "Parkinsons -like symptoms",but the VA would need tio have a definitive diagnosis of early onset, and then a full medical rational for it. 

If you do contact a doctor who is will to prepare an IMO/IME for you- they need to follow the IMO/IME criteria here at hadit, unless they have alrteadty prepared IMO/IMEs specifically for veteran or their survivors.

I based my original posts on how an IMO/IME is to be prepared, from the IMOs I received from Dr. Bash. Since he had been a former VA doctor, he knew exactly what a good IMO/IME needs to reveal.

 

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