The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the exact diagnosis and etiology of the Veteran's neurological conditions, particularly Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Plus Syndrome. The AOJ must obtain all outstanding VA treatment records, especially those from Camp Lejeune, and attempt to obtain private medical records from relevant providers.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is uncertainty regarding the exact diagnosis and etiology of the Veteran’s neurological conditions due to conflicting diagnoses and lack of definitive evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson's Plus Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18132034
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18132034.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim is related to his exposure at Camp Lejeune, but there are questions about whether he currently has Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's Disease, but denied it based on direct causation.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the (o) rate based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions. He also meets the criteria for SMC at the (r)(1) level due to need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
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