VA Disability Rating for Agent Orange and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder affecting the nervous system. Symptoms vary depending on the person and the severity of the condition. Mild and moderate signs of Parkinson’s disease include:

• Tremors (rhythmic shaking): As a Parkinson’s patient, you may experience tremors in your fingers and hands.
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia): Parkinson’s disease may slow your movements, making simple tasks such as getting out of a chair time-consuming and difficult.
• Impaired balance and posture: Your posture may hunch, and you may experience balance problems. 
• Speech changes: You may hesitate before speaking and talk quickly, softly, or with a slur.
• Writing changes: You may have difficulty writing, and your handwriting may look small.

The United States Army used Agent Orange to defoliate shrubs and trees and kill crops that provided food and cover to opposition forces. However, it also had extreme effects on the human and animal population. Many veterans and opposition forces were exposed to Agent Orange on land and in some waterways.

One of the chemicals in Agent Orange is dioxin, which has been proven to cause severe health damage and congenital deformities. Research has shown that dioxin alters the complex chemical and cellular balances involved in reproductive processes and bodily functioning, leading to conditions like Parkinson’s disease. The VA has added Parkinson’s disease to a list of conditions presumed to result from Agent Orange exposure.

Advanced signs of Parkinson’s disease include the inability to live independently, difficulty walking, and cognitive issues, including delusions and hallucinations.

Parkinson’s disease happens when neurons in the brain gradually die or break down. The symptoms of Parkinson’s result from the loss of neurons that create dopamine, a chemical messenger in your brain that causes irregular brain activity when its levels decrease.