The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities due to exposure to contaminated waters during military service. The Veteran was exposed to chemicals and toxins, including pesticides, while diving in the Hudson River.
The deciding factor: Multiple studies have shown a significantly higher risk of Parkinson’s disease and peripheral neuropathy among those exposed to pesticides, particularly when combined with other factors such as genetic predisposition and environmental exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Parkinson's disease, Peripheral neuropathy of right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21001299
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 21001299.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, which is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 25, 2016 for the award of service connection for Parkinson's disease.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for revision of a May 2019 rating decision that assigned an initial 10 percent rating for Parkinson's disease, finding no clear and unmistakable error.
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