Tremors secondary to depression

[USAFSP]

Trying to find medical articles/evidence supporting the fact that depression worsens Essential Tremors. Thanks. 

[Berta]

" Depression may be a primary manifestation of the illness rather than a secondary response to disability."  re: Essential Tremors

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2813410/

However more recent study by the same medical entity  did not support a relationship from depression to tremors 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5607546/

 

Since C & P doctors often use google to find an article, abstract or medical Treatice to use to deny a claim, this shows how they often can find something on line to support their rationale, where there might well be more onafide medical info on line to support the claim.

However, the word  "Essential" gives a veteran a lot of leeway in proving a service connection-as 'secondary':

It means the doctors do not know what caused it.

"Essential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressure of unknown cause). Also known as idiopathic."
https://www.rxlist.com/essential/definition.htm

I used that above medical fact when the VA had deemed my husband's HBP as "essential"-and NSC ,because they never looked for a cause-
I sought the cause- and found his HBP had been malpracticed on by VA ( awarded under FTCA/ 1151)
and then I found it had been caused by his VA malpracticed Ischemic Heart disease , VA malpractised ischemic stroke, and VA malpracticed DMII, the IHD and DMII  finally granted as SC  from his proven AO exposure, and also as causing his direct service connected sudden death.

The VA seems to have lost my AO HBP claim, and the VA has awarded some of those claims -HBP from AO Vietnam)and I need to re-file it-my evidence is impeccable - all in our AO forum re: AO HBP, for I have gone through the 'lost claim' crap many times before-with my RO.

If you use my google search feature a lot will pop up-
'can depression cause essential tremors'

This article is more recent, from the same entity above  and it focuses on veterans:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6026277/

A long read but it might help you-

I assume your depression is service connected - have you searched your depression meds to see if they, as a side affect, could have caused the tremors?

Could you be taking any other type of meds that can cause tremors.

Meds and their side affects are on the net.

This excellent vet law firm has essential tremor info and ratings here:
https://www.woodslawyers.com/essential-tremors-veterans-disability-rating/#:~:text=Because neurological disorders can be,of up to 70 percent.

However you might well consider getting an IME from a non VA Neuro to bolster your claim,  which might be costly but might be the Only way to support a claim as secondary to your depression. The IME doc might even find a different cause of the tremors that would support service connection.

I assume VA has ruled out Parkinsons, or Parkinsonia symptoms. ?

If you served in Vietnam or were on a Blue Water Navy ship ,*** C 123 crew ,Korea regs .etc per the article that was exposed to ***AO( per the VA AO ships list, available here at hadit under a search ), you might want to read this carefully-
In part:

"The 2021 NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress determined that there is a link between Parkinson’s-like symptoms are Agent Orange exposure.

Parkinson’s-like symptoms refers to a condition where the symptoms may resemble Parkinson’s Disease, but have not been formally diagnosed as such.  The symptoms may include tremors, slowed movement, impaired speech, and muscle stiffness.  The addition of Parkinson’s-like symptoms to VA’s presumptive condition list will make it easier for veterans with these symptoms to secure disability benefits."

https://cck-law.com/veterans-law/parkinsons-disease-and-veteran-disability-compensation/

 

[Berta]

Here are a few Essential tremor claims at the BVA:

"ORDER

The claim for service connection for essential tremors of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to the service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted."
 

https://www.va.gov/vetapp20/Files11/20074188.txt

"Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied. Entitlement to service connection for essential tremors, claimed as neurological issues, is granted."

In part : ( and this kind of incompetent crap from the VAROs makes me sick- he should have been given Benefit of Doubt long before the BVA awarded his claim)

In May 2016 the Veteran was seen by a VA examiner to determine if his neurological issues were the result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While the examiner was able to rule out any TBI causing the tremor, the examiner did find that the “record is supporting of the essential tremor having onset in service.” In April 2017 the Veteran was afforded another VA examination regarding his tremors. The examiner found that the tremors were “at least as likely as not” incurred in or caused by the Veteran’s military service. The examiner based his opinion on the fact that there was “abundant evidence placing development of tremor/gait issues proximate to Veteran’s Gulf War time of service.” The examiner concluded that it was “abundantly clear” that the “neurologic issue of record” was associated with the Veteran’s military service. Finally, in May 2020 the Veteran submitted a statement from Dr. M., a non-VA physician who has been treating the Veteran. According to Dr. M., the Veteran’s chronic tremor developed “since coming home from his tours of duty.” The Veteran’s tremors “should be considered a service-related disability. While not impossible, I think that it is quite unlikely that [the Veteran] would be in his current condition, with these tremors” if it was not for his “service in the Marine Corps.” Dr. M. based his conclusion on a review of the Veteran’s medical records, as well as studies from the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence, including the Veteran’s lay statements, the findings of multiple VA examiners, and Dr. M.’s medical opinion, establishes that it is as least as likely as not that the Veteran’s essential tremors are due, or were incurred in, his active duty military service. Therefore, reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran and entitlement to service connection for tremors is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (b); Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990)."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp20/Files8/20053217.txt

"Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease, previously claimed as essential tremors, as due to exposure to Agent Orange, is granted.

Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, to include as due to service-connected disabilities, is granted."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp20/Files4/20026762.txt

You might find more by using my BVA search feature link:

https://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=bvadecisions&sort_by=&query=essential+tremor+due+to+depression

The denials are as important as their remands and awards. The BVA can read.

 

You might find more to help with my BVA search feature:

 

[Berta]

To add this is my search feature for meds and other things that can cause essential tremors:

https://www.google.com/search?q=medications+that+can+cause+essential+tremors&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS695US695&ei=DErpYb_mCNqtqtsPze2ZOA&oq=medications+that+can+cause+tremors&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYBDIFCAAQgAQyBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDOgcIABBHELADOgcIABCwAxBDOgUIABCRAjoLCC4QxwEQrwEQkQI6CwguEIAEELEDEIMBOgoILhDHARCjAhBDOgsILhCABBDHARDRAzoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6CwguELEDEMcBEKMCOgQIABBDOg4ILhCABBCxAxDHARCjAjoICAAQgAQQsQM6CAgAELEDEIMBOgUIABCxAzoFCC4QgARKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQ-AhYsFhgpowBaAJwAngFgAH2DIgBn7YBkgEHNi02LjguNZgBAKABAbABAMgBCcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

If the VA prescibes a medication that causes an additional and separate ratable disability, the VA ,with a claim of Section 1151, 38 USC,or filed as a secondary claim,  should grant "as if" service connected comp under 1151 or secondary for the additional disability....if the med involved a SC diability. You could file under both theories of entitlement ,if that is appropriate.

This BVA decision shows what I mean:

The veteran claimed the VA prescribed methocarbamol caused her to have additional disability:

"ORDER Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic disability manifested by loss of balance due to VA treatment in August and September 1995 is granted."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp11/files5/1142020.txt

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2022 by Berta