Citation Nr: 21065942
Decision Date: 10/28/21	Archive Date: 10/28/21

DOCKET NO. 20-11 845
DATE: October 28, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease as a result of exposure to herbicides is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from October 1964 to September 1968.

The Board has reviewed the evidence presently in the record and acknowledges a March 2017 VA Parkinson's disease examination confirming a positive diagnosis. No etiology opinion was provided. 

In his December 2017 Notice of Disagreement (NOD), the Veteran asserted direct exposure to herbicide agents during active service while on temporary duty (TDY) at Kunsan Air Base (AB), Korea. A December 2017 Memorandum notes that VA has not conceded herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination so that not only the nature and symptoms of his Parkinson's disease are clear to the examiner, but also so the examiner has an opportunity to consider the Veteran's lay contentions in rendering a nexus opinion.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Request records research to verify the Veteran's statements regarding claimed exposure to herbicide agents while assigned to TDY at Kunsan AB, Korea, from January 1968 to May 1968. The report must also address the Veteran's claims of visiting United States Air Force bases in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). 

2. Regardless of whether it is determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during active service, schedule the Veteran for the appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his Parkinson's disease. The claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. All necessary studies should be performed. The examiner is to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that Parkinson's disease had onset during active service, including as a result of in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner is asked to indicate and explain all likely etiologies for Parkinson's. A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed. 

 

A. C. MACKENZIE

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	B. Banks, Associate 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.