Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease causes brain cells to die, resulting in difficulty controlling bodily movements. It is rated under Diagnostic Code 8004 with a minimum rating of 30%. This is a presumptive condition under multiple criteria: Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune exposure, secondary to moderate or severe TBI, and diagnosis within one year of separation. Parkinson's can produce a wide range of secondary symptoms including balance problems, constipation, dementia and other mental health conditions, difficulty chewing or swallowing, head tremor, loss of automatic movements like blinking, loss of smell and taste, nerve issues in both upper and lower extremities, sexual dysfunction, sleep apnea symptoms, speech changes, stooped posture, and urinary dysfunction. Each of these secondary symptoms may qualify for its own separate rating.