The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease, which is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during his time on a Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Board found that the Veteran's statements and buddy statements were credible enough to concede he served near or on the perimeter of U-Tapao Air Base.
The deciding factor: The Board conceded herbicide agent exposure based on credible evidence, including the Veteran's own statements and those of his fellow service members who observed him at the base. The Veteran was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2002, which is a presumptive disability for those exposed to herbicide agents.
- Claimed conditions
- Parkinson's Disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19140971
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,645 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19140971.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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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