Citation Nr: 21069185 Decision Date: 11/17/21 Archive Date: 11/17/21 DOCKET NO. 18-05 999A DATE: November 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1966 to November 1969. This appeal comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston Salem, North Carolina. In March 2021, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). A hearing transcript is associated with the record. The VLJ held the record open for 30 days for the submission of supporting evidence. The Board subsequently received additional evidentiary submissions. Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease is remanded. The Veteran, and his representative, contends that his disability is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. At the Board hearing, the Veteran conceded that he did not have service within the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). See Hearing Transcript 5-6, 8-9 (March 2021). The Veteran, however, argues that although his military duties only brought him within miles of the DMZ, he was exposed to Agent Orange from loading leaflets on military aircraft at Osan Air Force Base. In elaborating, the Veteran testified that the aircrafts were located in Quonset huts, and these Quonset huts were filled with dust and flying particulate matter, which, he maintains is evidence of Agent Orange. For reasons explained below, the Board finds that remand is necessary. Initially, the Board observes that military personnel records reveal that the Veteran was stationed in Korea from November 1968 to November 1969. While in Korea, the Veteran was attached to the 7th Psychological Operations Group (7th PSYOP Grp) from November 1968 to December 1968, and to the 24th Psychological Operations Detachment (24th PSYOP Det) from December 1968 to November 1969. Next, a September 2017 U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) response reflects, among other things, that they were unable to locate 1969-unit records for the 24th PSYOP Det or their higher headquarters, the 7th PSYOP Grp. The JSRRC response, however, does not indicate that an inquiry was conducted for 1968-unit records. As noted above, the record reflects that the Veteran was in Korea from November 1968 to November 1969. Additionally, the Veteran's representative submitted evidence indicating that there are 1968-unit records for the 7th PSYOP Grp and 24th PSYOP Det. See Correspondence (March 2021). Furthermore, the JSRRC response indicates that a 1969 Chronology, submitted by the 7th PSYOP Grp, was reviewed. However, the record reveals that the 7th PSYOP Grp, by General Orders, was redesignated to the 24th PSYOP Det on December 4, 1968. Therefore, it is unclear and ambiguous, from the JSRRC response, whether the correct 1969-unit Chronology was reviewed. Thus, given the above, the Board finds that remand is necessary for further development of the claim. Shoffner v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 208, 213 (2002) (Board has discretion below as to how much development is required). Accordingly, any further adjudication of the claim at this juncture is unreasonable given the appearance of an incomplete record. Brambley v. Principi, 17 Vet. App. 20 (2003). In remanding this matter, the Board makes no finding, implicit or otherwise, as to the credibility of the Veteran's assertions. Neither the Veteran's credibility nor any lack thereof should be presumed in this remand. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Attempt to verify the Veteran's asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents, to include alleged in-service exposure at Osan Air Force Base. 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. 2. Obtain all VA treatment records dated from October 2017 to the Present. 3. Readjudicate. C.A. SKOW Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Griffey, 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.