Citation Nr: 20005889 Decision Date: 01/23/20 Archive Date: 01/23/20 DOCKET NO. 18-22 002 DATE: January 23, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson’s Disease is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1962 to January 1966. In October 2019, he testified at a videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the proceeding is in the record. Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson’s Disease is remanded. The Veteran contends that he developed Parkinson’s Disease from spraying herbicides and other chemicals as a groundskeeper while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. His service personnel records reflect his work as a pavement maintenance specialist. His reports of spraying chemicals as part of his job responsibilities are consistent with the known circumstances of his service. Further, his VA treatment records document a medical history of Parkinson’s Disease. Considering the Veteran’s credible testimony and the medical evidence, remand is needed to afford him a VA examination with opinion on this issue. The procedures for establishing exposure to toxic herbicides for Veterans stationed in locations other than the Republic of Vietnam, the Korean DMZ, or Thailand during the Vietnam Era are set forth in the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual. See M21-1.IV.ii.1.H.6. There is no indication in the record that these procedures were properly followed to confirm the Veteran’s contention of having been exposed to tactical herbicides during active duty service. On the contrary, an October 2017 formal finding in the record states that VA lacked the information needed to verify herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, this despite the Veteran’s acknowledgement that he never served in Vietnam but rather contends that his exposure occurred while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base. On remand, the proper development must be conducted before the Board can adjudicate the Veteran’s claim. Finally, any outstanding VA and private treatment records should be obtained and associated with the Veteran’s claims folder. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain all outstanding VA treatment records dated from May 2019 to the present and associate them with the Veteran’s claims folder 2. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 identifying his private medical providers. Make two requests for the authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 3. Pursuant to VA’s Adjudication Procedure Manual, M21-1, IV.ii.1.H.6, attempt to verify the Veteran’s asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information. If there is still insufficient information to verify exposure to herbicide agents, issue a Formal Finding outlining the steps taken to assist the Veteran and notify the Veteran of VA’s inability to verify the in-service herbicide agent exposure. 4. Then schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of Parkinson’s Disease. The examiner must first confirm the Veteran’s diagnosis and opine whether any diagnosed condition related to the Veteran’s reported Parkinson’s Disease and bilateral hand tremors at least as likely as not had its onset in service or was otherwise related to the Veteran’s reports of having handled herbicides and other chemicals during active duty service as a pavement maintenance specialist while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. M. E. Larkin Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Jack S. Komperda, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.