Right,
Last year, I ran this route with VA for Ms. America. Her disability claim was supported by diagnosis and clinical observations/information from John Hopkins, a fourteen year medical history from primary care provider and copies of hospital medical records from falls.
DENIED -
service records did not show/support HD diagnosis or symptoms In there lies the key/crux of the matter, not service related.
Prior to submitting a claim, suggest service medical records be independently reviewed by neurologist with HD creds, for any indication service member was treated for HD symptoms while on active duty. If evidence shows or points to a thread where treatment suggests underlying cause are symptoms - then that finding should be on top of the submission. Have found known/recognized medical centers, i.e. John Hopkins, carry a lot of weight with the VA. With all due respect, local primary care providers (doctors, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners) just don't have recognized creds in this business.
VA is electronically processing claims. Which means claims are digitized, then scanned for key words, dates and places that pertain to the vet's disability claim before adjudication by an admin type, probably not a medical person. Which means forwarding letters, claims, findings (see above) should contain words/phrases in the VA regs/documents/schedules that describe the rate able disorder to get through the scanning process.
Also, VA will designate a vet with HD as catastrophically disabled, separate from a claim for service connected disability. As a minimum that means the vet gets bumped up to Category 4 for medical benefits - no copay for medical services or meds.
All that said - believe there may be basis for a separate action/clarificaton given the fact VA determines a vet to be catastrophic disabled due to HD, but not is rate able for disability. It will take someone with more experience with VA processes, legal expertise and political astuteness than I to chase this to ground. Before that is undertaken, it would be beneficial to knew how many vets are pHDs. In my way of thinking this could be a commendable undertaking for the people in the ivory towers, aka HDSA.
form the south of Maryland, good luck.
Fred Lothrop