{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/parkinsons-disease","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:12.810Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Parkinson's disease","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":2759,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":35.4,"denied_pct":22.3,"remanded_pct":41.4,"granted_on_merits_pct":61.3,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":151,"granted_pct":28.5,"denied_pct":27.2,"remanded_pct":37.7},{"year":2018,"issues":235,"granted_pct":28.5,"denied_pct":26.8,"remanded_pct":43},{"year":2019,"issues":335,"granted_pct":29.9,"denied_pct":24.8,"remanded_pct":44.2},{"year":2020,"issues":337,"granted_pct":32.3,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":46.3},{"year":2021,"issues":360,"granted_pct":31.4,"denied_pct":21.9,"remanded_pct":45.6},{"year":2022,"issues":427,"granted_pct":37.2,"denied_pct":24.4,"remanded_pct":36.8},{"year":2023,"issues":483,"granted_pct":32.1,"denied_pct":21.3,"remanded_pct":44.5},{"year":2024,"issues":401,"granted_pct":36.2,"denied_pct":15.5,"remanded_pct":47.6},{"year":2025,"issues":377,"granted_pct":36.9,"denied_pct":24.7,"remanded_pct":36.9},{"year":2026,"issues":116,"granted_pct":43.1,"denied_pct":19,"remanded_pct":34.5}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":71.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":288,"granted_pct_with":80.5,"granted_pct_without":58.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1352,"granted_pct_with":52.8,"granted_pct_without":69.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":470,"granted_pct_with":85.6,"granted_pct_without":54.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":874,"granted_pct_with":51.6,"granted_pct_without":65.8},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1013,"granted_pct_with":68.3,"granted_pct_without":56.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":233,"granted_pct_with":75.4,"granted_pct_without":59.6},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1998,"granted_pct_with":58.6,"granted_pct_without":70.5},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":171,"granted_pct_with":77.8,"granted_pct_without":59.9},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":149,"granted_pct_with":77,"granted_pct_without":60.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":180},{"reason":"parkinson's disease is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure","decisions":34},{"reason":"parkinson's disease is a presumptive condition under 38 c.f.r. § 3.309(e)","decisions":32},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with parkinson's disease","decisions":28},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":23},{"reason":"parkinson's disease is a presumptive condition linked to herbicide exposure","decisions":20}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":70},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":67},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":59},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":54},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":37},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":26}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040799","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL R. CASEY","rationale":"Private medical opinion found Parkinson's at least as likely as not caused/aggravated by in-service heavy metal exposure.; VA examiner's opinion was limited to asbestos exposure and did not address private opinion's theory.; Board found private opinion persuasive and resolved doubt in favor of the c… [truncated, 5 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26040118","year":2026,"judge":"STEVEN D. REISS","rationale":"Current disability and TERA exposure established; Favorable July 2025 VA opinion linking Parkinson's to TERA; Conflicting negative VA opinion obtained later; Benefit of the doubt applied due to approximate balance of evidence"},{"case_id":"A26039859","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL R. CASEY","rationale":"Parkinson's disease diagnosed; Private opinion found nexus to in-service toxic exposures (heavy metals); VA opinion limited to asbestos, failed to address private opinion's theory; Board found private opinion persuasive; Benefit of doubt resolved in favor of claim"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26005027","year":2026,"judge":"S.C. KREMBS","rationale":"No confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson's disease; Examiner's diagnosis based on inaccurate premise; Veteran denied diagnosis"},{"case_id":"A26037713","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN Z. JONES","rationale":"Service connection for Parkinson's disease denied.; Present diagnosis and claimed TCE exposure acknowledged.; Lack of competent medical evidence linking Parkinson's disease to TCE exposure.; TERA memorandum did not specifically address TCE."},{"case_id":"A26036437","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN J. CROWLEY","rationale":"Service treatment records negative for Parkinson's disease; Post-service records negative for Parkinson's disease diagnosis; VA examiner opinion found competent, credible, and most probative"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}