Veterans With Parkinsons Eligible For Tdiu
If your service-connected Parkinsons keeps you from working, benefits may also be available under a unique rating called Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability . Under this program, the VA pays 100% of total disability compensation to veterans who are unable to earn a living, and whose service-connected disabilities are not rated as 100-percent disabling. You want to be sure to file for TDIU as well.
Causes Of Parkinsons Disease
In spite of decades of study, the causes of Parkinsons have yet to be determined but we do know of several risk factors. Many experts believe Parkinsons may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but these can vary case by case. Physical injuries to the brain have also been linked with neurological conditions.
Presumptive Service Connection For Parkinsons:
The VA may presume your PD is connected to your military service. Veterans who develop Parkinsons disease and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides or contaminants during military service do not have to prove a connection between their disease and service to be eligible to receive VA disability compensation.
UPDATE: As of January 2020, the VA extended the presumption of Agent Orange exposure and other toxic herbicides to Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans, and to veterans who served in or near the Korean DMZ . H.R.299 Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
Veterans with Parkinsons disease who served in the following locations and specified times need not prove they were exposed to VA-recognized toxins to get disability compensation:
- Exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam: Veterans who set foot in Vietnam, and veterans serving aboard ships operating on the close coastal waters and inland waterways of Vietnam, and as of January 2020, Blue Water Veterans for any duration between January 9, 1962 May 7, 1975, or
- Exposure to Agent Orange in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone for any duration between April 1, 1968 August 31, 1971, or
Exposure to Contaminated Water, Marine Base Camp Lejeune, NC for at least 30 days between August 1953 December 1987 .
We have more information about Blue Water Veterans.
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Do Not Be Discouraged
Many SSDI claims for Parkinsonian Syndrome are initially denied. Yet when represented by a disability attorney, denials often go on to be approved at the ALJ hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
Our attorneys can give you superior support in pursuing your disability benefits and can represent your claim at any level of the appeals process. We also have the resources that can help a borderline claim based on Parkinsonian syndrome be successful.
Agent Orange Exposure: A Must Read For Every Vietnam
Do you need help or advice? Contact us now.
Our full understanding of the health impacts of Agent Orange has expanded over the years. So, too, has the VAs official position on which diseases are caused by Agent Orange, and who is eligible for disability benefits. Yet 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, some veterans are still waiting to get benefits for Agent Orange exposure.
In 2021, three new conditions bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism were added to the Agent Orange presumptive benefits list. That increased the disability payments of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans. But hypertension and dementia, which researchers say are connected to Agent Orange exposure, are not yet compensable conditions.
In 2020, a Congressional Act made Blue Water Navy veterans eligible for Agent Orange benefits. The VA had previously denied these veterans, who operated along Vietnams waterways. Veterans who served in Thailand and reservists who handled Agent Orange on a handful of U.S. Air Force bases are also presumed to have been exposed. One site of toxic exposure that still goes unacknowledged is Guam. Vietnam-era veterans stationed in Guam used Agent Orange to clear brush around bases. And despite suffering from the same raft of illnesses as their counterparts in Vietnam, these veterans arent granted the same presumption of service-connection.
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Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
The symptoms of Parkinsons can vary and may be different for each person. According to Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms associated with Parkinsons disease include:
- Writing Changes
Parkinsons can also lead to a variety of different complications, which may or may not be treatable. Mayo Clinic lists the following Parkinsons complications:
- Difficulty Thinking
- Changes in Blood Pressure
What Military Records Will I Need To Submit
Youll need to submit your discharge or separation papers that show your time and location of service. These may include your DD214 or other separation documents.
For certain claims, you may also need more supporting documents.
For claims related to C-123 aircraft
Submit one or more of these forms:
To learn more, download our:
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Essential Tremors And Post Polio Syndrome And Agent Orange Exposure
Very rare condition, I cannot find any experts on this topic. The Veterans Administration admits that I was exposed to agent orange chemicals, thankful I never died from it or got cancer, however, the VA continually denies that my eventual permament essential tremors was NOT caused by the exposure. My attorney believes it was a matter of the Navy should never have allowed my enlistment because I was a polio victim at age 1, the recruiter said “well, you seem fine now”. I would have been drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam had I not joined the Navy, but it turned out I was sent to Vietnam on my ship that was transporting agent orange chemicals. I recovered mostly from polio but have forever had fatigue issues. Attorney believes the combination of having had polio plus exposure likely caused my tremors. I seek an expert’s opinion that would agree that this is likely the case. VA denies me any benefits saying there is no proof or any experts saying it is likely. Does anyone know where I might be able to get such an expert opinion? THe Mayo Clinic is telling me they cannot make any appointments for any kind of exam even though I live 90 minutes away from Jacksonville. Any help would be appreciated.
You are looking for a provider that can make the connection between polio, Agent Orange, and tremors. Did I get that right?
Vietnam Veterans of America: Agent Orange
Va Benefits For Parkinsons
Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange while in service are entitled to disability compensation for their disabilities. To be eligible, a Veteran must have served in Vietnam, the Korean demilitarized zone, or another area where Agent Orange was sprayed.
Veterans can receive a minimum VA rating of 30% for Parkinsons. However, Veterans are often entitled to a rating higher than 30%. If you would like to appeal your VA rating for Parkinsons disease, contact Berry Law. Our team has helped thousands of Veterans successfully appeal their rating decision.
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Vietnam Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange At Higher Dementia Risk
Veterans who were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War may be at increased risk of developing dementia compared to fellow soldiers who were not exposed. The results raise worrisome concerns, since many Vietnam veterans are now in their late 60s and 70s, an age when diagnoses of Alzheimers disease start to become increasingly common. The findings also raise potential concerns about how environmental toxins may play a role in brain ailments, including Alzheimers disease, the most common type of dementia in the world.
U.S. forces used Agent Orange during the Vietnam War to defoliate jungle trees and plants that provided cover for enemy forces, and to kill food crops. Many American servicemen were exposed to the defoliant during the war, most likely to very high doses, and its active ingredient dioxin, may persist in fat tissues in the body for decades.
Previous research has linked Agent Orange to neurologic ailments like Parkinsons disease, various cancers, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and other diseases. An earlier study suggested that Agent Orange might also be linked to a slightly increased risk of dementia, but this study, published in JAMA Neurology, was much larger.
For the current study, researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine reviewed health records of more than 300,000 veterans, 38,121 of whom had been exposed to Agent Orange. They tracked their health, beginning when most were in their early 60s, for up to 14 years.
Agent Orange Effects On Children Of Veterans
Children who have spina bifida or certain other birth defects and are biological children of veterans with qualifying service in Vietnam or Korea may be eligible for a range of VA benefits, including:
- Compensation – a monthly monetary allowance based on the child’s degree of disability
- Health care benefits
- Vocational training, which provides up to 24 months of full-time training, rehabilitation and job assistance with the possibility of an extension up to 24 months if needed to achieve the employment goal. The child may not begin vocational training before their 18th birthday or the date they complete secondary schooling, whichever comes first.
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Parkinsons Disease From Agent Orange Exposure
Berry LawVeterans Disability
Veterans who served in Vietnam, Korea, or Thailand may have been exposed to Agent Orange. Agent Orange is a chemical defoliant that the US military used during the Vietnam War to remove foliage that provided cover for the enemy. The negative side effects of Agent Orange exposure are widely publicized, and many Veterans who were subject to Agent Orange are dealing with consequences today.
In fact, the disabilities Veterans are dealing with today due to Agent Orange exposure are so prominent that the Department of Veterans Affairs created a list of illnesses they presumed to be caused by the herbicide. One of those illnesses is Parkinsons disease.
Agent Orange & Parkinsons Disease
Agent Orange was used in chemical warfare during the Vietnam War. Since then, Vietnam veterans have developed a variety of symptoms related to Agent Orange exposureincluding Parkinsons Disease.
There is research that is starting to show exposure to certain chemicals do cause Parkinsons Disease, and some of those chemicals such as TCE and PCE have been found in the water of Camp Lejeune. There is also evidence that Agent Orange herbicide exposure causes Parkinsons, which the VA has now conceded. Parkinsons Disease is one of the presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange that the VA recognizes.
According to the Parkinsons Foundation, the main chemical in Agent Orange, called dioxin, is the main culprit in causing disease.
Agent Orange has also been linked to respiratory cancer, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and chronic b-cell leukemias. This service connection is particularly prevalent for Vietnam War veterans.
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Health Care Benefits For Agent Orange Exposure
Veterans with service-connected conditions related to Agent Orange may be eligible for specific health care benefits from VA.
Children of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may also be eligible for some healthcare benefits, specifically if they have one of the following birth defects:
In addition to having one or more of these conditions, the child must also be:
- The biological offspring of a woman Vietnam Veteran who served between February 28, 1961 and May 7,1975 and
- Conceived after the date on which the Veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam.
Agent Orange Exposure And Va Disability Compensation
Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may have certain related cancers or other illnesses.
If you have a health condition caused by exposure to Agent Orange during military service, read this page to find out if you may be eligible for disability compensation and how to apply.
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Environmental Factors In Parkinsons Disease
Here are environmental factors that may play a role in the development of Parkinsons disease:
Although environmental exposure to these and other toxins is of continued research interest, its hard to determine if any one substance is a culprit. Most often, individual cases of Parkinsons disease result from a complex interplay between genetics and environmental and other factors.
Proving Service Connection For Parkinsons Disease Without A Presumption:
As for any other non-presumptive conditions, veterans with Parkinsons who did not serve in a location listed above may still qualify for VA compensation. You will need to submit additional evidence to show that your exposure was during military service, and link the exposure to your Parkinsons.
Because PD is progressive, the VA does not make veterans wait for the disease to slowly evolve. So medical documentation of symptoms should pave the way to service connection. The first thing you need to provide is documentation that you have symptoms of Parkinsonism.
You will need to provide the VA with your
- Military separation records
- Service treatment records
- Medical evidence of diagnosis and treatment of Parkinsons
Timing and sufficient evidence of Parkinsons are critical, as a timely filing for VA compensation properly ensures that you can start receiving benefits from the date VA has your claim in hand.
You will also need your physicians opinion saying that your PD was caused by exposure to toxins in service, or by a service-connected traumatic brain injury . We recommend providing a statement detailing your exposure or event.
Regarding Parkinsons in particular, various instances exist by which veterans may qualify for service-connected VA compensation, including
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Disabilities Secondary To Parkinsons Disease
While most people tend to think of Parkinsons disorder as a neurological movement disorder, and it most certainly is, many people do not realize that other systems in the body can also be severely affected by Parkinsons. Often, the same chemical exposure can also cause other disorders, such as ischemic heart disease. However, often it is the Parkinsons itself, or the medication used to treat it that is the causal factor in the development of a new disorder. Whether a veterans Parkinsons was caused by exposure to the TCDD in agent orange, pesticides, trichloroethylene, or its origins are unknown, Parkinsons cause many secondary health effects and disabilities.
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The Tragic Link Between Paraquat And Parkinsons Disease And Torhoerman Laws Quest For Justice
EDWARDSVILLE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / December 31, 2020 / Paraquat is putting farmers and farming communities across the nation in danger. The herbicide has been directly linked to Parkinsons disease and has already been banned in many countries, including China, Brazil, and the EU. This begs the question of why farmers in all 50 states are still able to utilize the dangerous chemical. TorHoerman Law is on a mission to bring awareness to this dangerous chemical, the risks involved, and the legal options available to those who suffer from Parkinsons linked to Paraquat exposure.
Paraquat is a chemical agent used primarily as an herbicide in no-till farming. Its most commonly used as a spray, being a less labor-intensive alternative to discing/standard tilling farming. As more weeds become resistant to RoundUp, Paraquats popularity in farming continues to grow across the US. In 2017, the last year in which data is available, use was estimated to be almost 10 million pounds annually in the United States.
The dangers of ingesting the chemical are fairly well-known, as a dose of just 2.5 grams is lethal. For this reason, it has been the cause of death in multiple suicides and accidental deaths. The immediate effects of Paraquat are deadly, but the lasting effects of Paraquat exposure may pose an even more sinister threat to farmers, pesticide applicators, tank fillers/mixers, and the families living in and around farming communities.
Contact Name: Chad A Finley
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Benefits For Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange
Veterans with PD who were exposed to Agent Orange during military service and their families may be eligible for VA health care, disability, or survivor payments.7 VA offices and government websites can help locate available local services and forms needed to apply for medical, compensatory, and monetary benefits.
No One Definitive Cause Of Parkinsons
There are no biomarkers or objective screening tests that indicate one has Parkinsons. That said, medical experts have shown that a constellation of factors are linked to it.
Parkinsons causes are likely a blend of genetics and environmental or other unknown factors. About 10 to 20 percent of Parkinsons disease cases are linked to a genetic cause, says Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Institute for Cell Engineering at Johns Hopkins. The types are either autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive .
But that leaves the majority of Parkinsons cases as idiopathic, which means unknown. We think its probably a combination of environmental exposure to toxins or pesticides and your genetic makeup, says Dawson.
Age. The biggest risk factor for developing Parkinsons is advancing age. The average age of onset is 60.
Gender. Men are more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than women.
Genetics. Individuals with a parent or sibling who is affected have approximately two times the chance of developing Parkinsons. Theres been an enormous amount of new information about genetics and new genes identified over the past 10 or 15 years that have opened up a greater understanding of the disease, says Dawson.
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