What is it? Can you get it service connected? Is it a presumptive condition?
Today, we will be discussing Parkinson’s disease. This disease is a chronic and progressive disorder that affects your nervous system, meaning it develops gradually and gets worse over time. As you may know, one of the most noticeable signs of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor. However, there are some signs and symptoms you can be watching for if you think you are developing Parkinson’s disease.
Please be aware that every person is affected by this disease in a different way. It is common for the signs and symptoms to begin on one side of the body, and may continue to be worse on that side throughout the disease process.
Some typical signs and symptoms are:
· Tremor
· Slowed motion
· Rigid muscles
· Difficulty with posture and balance
· Loss of automatic movements such as blinking, swinging your arms and smiling
· Changes in your speech
· And difficulty remembering things
If you feel you may be suffering from this disease, please make an appointment to see a private physician or contact your local VA medical center. Typically, you will be referred to a neurologist, who is a physician that specializes in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, for a final diagnosis. There are a few steps you can take to make this appointment more beneficial:
· Make a list of any symptoms you are having and when they began. Also, does anything make these symptoms better?
· Have you had any major stress or big changes in your life recently?
· Bring a list of current medications you are taking.
· Have a family member or friend come with you to the doctors appointment.
· Make a list of questions you may have for the doctor.
You may be wondering, “Why are we discussing this disease?” Well, this disease in particular is a presumptive condition of exposure to Agent Orange. This means that if you were exposed to Agent Orange and you have a DIAGNOSIS BY A PHYSICIAN, you could be entitled to monetary and medical benefits through the VA.
There are specific criteria you must meet to be considered “exposed to Agent Orange”. For a full list of exposure criteria and geographic areas that were exposed to Agent Orange, please visit www.va.gov .
At the current time, the minimum amount of service connection you can receive for Parkinson’s disease is 30%.
Often times it can be a confusing or overwhelming process to file a new claim and submit the needed medical evidence. If you have questions or need assistance with this process you may want to seek the legal help of attorneys like the ones at Jan Dils Attorneys at Law. We have the people, knowledge, and resources to help you get the benefits you deserve. For a free phone consultation, give us a call at 1-877-526-3457.
