The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on the PACT Act, but has remanded the issues of service connection for Parkinson's disease and its secondary hand and leg cramps.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, which is presumed to be related to his current diagnoses of hypertension and Parkinson's disease. The Board found that the Veteran had exposure to herbicides but did not have direct evidence linking his current conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Parkinson's disease, Bilateral hand cramps, Bilateral leg cramps
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2023
- Citation
- 23047826
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 23047826.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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