Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time and encompasses a range of symptoms, such as tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, poor posture and balance, speech changes, sleep problems, loss of automatic movements, and depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, many veterans suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and it is important to know about VA benefits when evaluating whether you may be able to receive VA disability compensation for your condition.
Is your Parkinson’s Related to your Military Service?
In order to receive VA disability compensation for your Parkinson’s disease, it must be related to your military service. There are several ways to connect Parkinson’s to your service.
First, your Parkinson’s might be directly related to your military service if your symptoms or diagnosis began in service. You will need to establish that your in-service injury, symptoms, or condition are related to your current condition, which may affect VA disability rates. This may require a medical provider’s opinion.
Second, your Parkinson’s may be caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition. If your service-connected condition has made your Parkinson’s worse in anyway, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits for that aggravation.
For example, the VA has associated Parkinson’s with physical injuries to the brain, such that Parkinson’s disease is presumed to be service connected when it develops after an in-service Traumatic Brain Injury.
Third, your Parkinson’s might be presumptively related to service if you served in certain locations during certain periods.
For example, veterans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who served in-country or on the inland waterways of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides and are eligible for presumptive service-connection for Parkinson’s disease. This means that eligible veterans do not have to establish a connection between service and Parkinson’s disease, the VA has already conceded there is a connection.
As another example, veterans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who served at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 are presumed to have been exposed to the contaminated water supply and are also eligible for presumptive service-connection.
If you think your Parkinson’s may be related to or aggravated by your military service, then you should apply for VA benefits.
How to Apply for VA Disability Benefits for Parkinson’s
Veterans can apply for service-connected monthly compensation benefits for Parkinson’s in several ways:
- File online: here.
- File by mail
Complete the VA application for disability benefits and mail it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
- File in person at your local VA Regional Office
- File by fax:
If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818.
If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
- File with the help of a trained professional, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.
Your healthcare provider may also complete and submit the Parkinson’s Disease Disability Benefits Questionnaire, which will help the VA understand the nature and severity of your condition.
How Does the VA Compensate for Parkinson’s Disease?
Once the VA agrees that your Parkinson’s is related to service, they will “rate” your condition, meaning they will assess the severity and impact of your symptoms and provide corresponding monthly compensation, which is something you need to know about rating when reviewing your benefits.
The VA rates Parkinson’s using Diagnostic Code 8004 for “paralysis agitans.” This diagnostic code only provides a minimum rating for 30%. Some argue that this diagnostic code, which was created right after World War II, is outdated, so the VA has provided supplemental guidance in the notes of the diagnostic code.
As a result of these notes, we know that Parkinson’s may actually be rated up to 100% based on the level of motor, sensory, or mental impairment. Once Parkinson’s is service-connected, a veteran can get disability benefits for any secondary condition that stems from Parkinson’s, especially mental impairment, complete or partial loss of use of one or more extremities, speech disturbances, impairment of vision, disturbances of gait, tremors, visceral manifestations, etc. When the VA rates your Parkinson’s, make sure they are adequately compensating you for every aspect of the condition.
Paths to Maximizing Benefits for Parkinson’s
- Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits
Veterans with Parkinson’s Disease may also be eligible for Special Monthly Compensation or Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. These benefits provide additional monthly payments to compensate for the severity of the veteran’s condition.
To learn more about aid and attendance and housebound benefits, including how to apply for these benefits, check the VA’s website.
- TDIU
If you are suffering from service-connected Parkinson’s, you may also be eligible for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, or TDIU. TDIU compensates veterans at a level consistent with a 100% rating when a service-connected condition, such as Parkinson’s disease, prevents the veteran from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
Other Possible Benefits for Veterans with Parkinson’s
- VA Pension
VA pension is a needs-based benefit that provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements. Veterans do not have to prove that their conditions are related to service to be eligible for pension payments. Therefore, if your Parkinson’s is not related to service, you may consider applying for pension benefits. To learn more about pension eligibility, check the VA’s website.
- VA Healthcare
Because the VA is aware of the connection between Parkinson’s disease and military service, the VA has created additional healthcare and research opportunities for Parkinson’s veterans. For example, VA Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s disease was created to address the medical needs of the Parkinson’s disease veteran population. To learn more about healthcare opportunities for veterans with Parkinson’s, check here.
Contact Vets National Advocates for Help
If you are suffering from Parkinson’s disease as a result of your military service, it is important to apply for VA benefits as soon as possible and Vets National Advocates is here to help. If the VA has denied your claim for service-connection for Parkinson’s disease, or if you think your compensation is inadequate, contact Vets National today, at 877-777-4021, to discuss your appeal rights.
