How the Board ruled on Parkinson's disease claims, 2021–2025

Parkinson's disease (direct service connection)

Direct (began in or was caused by service), or theory not stated in the Board order

63.4% granted of 358 decided cases (margin of error 58.3–68.2%). 227 granted, 131 denied, 277 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 73 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• Private or treating doctors' opinions outweighed VA opinions when they reviewed the full history, explained the cause with medical literature, or examined the veteran repeatedly, while the VA opinion gave no real justification. (3 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 24005317, 23017965, A23016085)
• The most common path to a grant was the Board finding herbicide exposure, for example duties near a Thailand base perimeter or service near the Korean DMZ, so Parkinson's was presumed service-connected. (6 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A21015794, A24022202, 22004573)
• When competent opinions or records on cause or diagnosis were evenly balanced, including a favorable VA examiner opinion, the Board resolved the doubt in the veteran's favor. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A21016969, 21021817, 22025178)

Common reasons in denied cases

• Medical evidence fell short: private opinions only stated a general link to an exposure without explaining it for this veteran, or no doctor linked Parkinson's to service at all, with onset decades later. (4 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A21010421, A24002423, A21012911)
• The most common reason for denial was that herbicide exposure was not shown, for example service in Guam or Thailand duties away from the base perimeter, so no presumption applied. (5 of 14 decisions read; e.g. 22046609, 21069126, A24012057)
• VA examinations and treatment records found no Parkinson's diagnosis, and the veteran's own belief that he had it was not competent medical evidence. (4 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A24003064, 21052123, A24028102)

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Parkinson's disease (exposure claims)

Exposure (e.g. Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, burn pits)

63.3% granted of 139 decided cases (margin of error 55.0–70.9%). 88 granted, 51 denied, 80 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 8 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• Most grants turned on the Board accepting that exposure happened, such as Thailand base duty, herbicide storage areas, or Camp Lejeune water, so a presumption applied. (6 of 7 decisions read; e.g. A21007004, A21008353, A22005751)
• Private medical evidence outweighed VA exams that missed the Parkinson's diagnosis or got the veteran's service facts wrong. (2 of 7 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 21003954, A21010512)
• Credible lay statements, sometimes backed by photographs, helped establish exposure. (2 of 7 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. A21008353, A24002027)

Common reasons in denied cases

• Exposure was not shown or presumed, for example service in Taiwan or too far off the Vietnam coast, with no other proof of herbicide contact. (5 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 23000240, A23000473, A23022032)
• There was no current Parkinson's diagnosis; symptoms were instead tied to essential tremor or strokes. (5 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A24048010, 22003542, 21054386)
• No medical opinion linked Parkinson's to service; the only support was the veteran's own belief or a speculative 'possible cause' statement. (3 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 21002364, 21032847, A23021260)

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Parkinson's disease secondary to any service-connected condition

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 15 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 9 granted, 6 denied, 13 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1 dismissed.

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