APDA is honoring those who served by ensuring that veterans exposed to toxins can access the care and benefits they have earned.
On Veterans Day, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) honors our nation’s veterans and renews its commitment to those living with Parkinson’s disease whose service may have exposed them to environmental hazards linked to neurological harm. In addition to the important information below, you may find APDA’s Helping Those Who Serve booklet to be a helpful resource, as well as the veterans’ section of our website.
Toxic exposure and access to benefits
Trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent used to clean military equipment, has been associated with increased Parkinson’s risk. The Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) presumes a service connection for certain veterans exposed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, but contamination has been documented at other military bases as well. Because symptoms may emerge many years after exposure, veterans can face significant hurdles proving that their disease is service connected. This is important because if an injury, condition, or disease is connected to your service, you are entitled to medical benefits through the VA, which can make a notable difference in your access to care.
The need is urgent: more than 110,000 people living with Parkinson’s are veterans. As of February 2026, among 8,930 Parkinson’s claims submitted by post-9/11 veterans, VA data show that less than half were granted service connection, illustrating the barriers many face while living with a progressive disease.
APDA’s Advocacy for Veterans with Parkinson’s
In April, APDA submitted comments to the VA and joined veterans from across the country in a public listening session, urging action on evidence linking military environmental exposures and Parkinson’s disease.
Specifically, APDA called for:
- Modernization of presumptive-eligibility policies to reflect delayed Parkinson’s onset and documented TCE contamination at additional military sites.
- Elimination of TCE and similar solvents from military installations.
- Improved long-term health surveillance, research, and access to specialized care.
Elevating veterans’ needs as part of the National Plan to End Parkinson’s
On October 26, APDA submitted a public comment letter to the Advisory Council on Parkinson’s Research, Care, and Services (ACPRCS) ahead of its November 9 meeting. Because November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, we chose to focus the letter on the needs of service members and veterans living with Parkinson’s disease.
The letter urges the Council to listen directly to veterans and military families, including Retired U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jessica Synder, Retired U.S. Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Norquist, and Chris Collier, who is a care partner for his father. It also asks the Council to include these recommendations in the National Plan to End Parkinson’s:
- Make environmental risk reduction a core part of Parkinson’s prevention, including identifying and mitigating exposures to toxins such as TCE and paraquat.
- Reduce harmful exposures for current and future service members, including eliminating exemptions and extended compliance periods for TCE.
- Align VA Parkinson’s policies with current science, so that a TCE exposure-based presumption is not limited by the 12-month window and is broadened to include other sites with documented contamination.
- Strengthen long-term surveillance and research of veterans exposed to environmental hazards, so those at risk can be identified earlier and connected to care through the VA’s Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) and the National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium.
In the months ahead, APDA will keep making the case for these recommendations to the Council and continue urging the VA to adopt science-based exposure policies that connect veterans with the care and benefits they have earned. To stay up-to-date on our efforts please sign up for APDA Advocacy Action Alerts.
Tips & Takeaways:
- Veterans face barriers to benefits: Delayed PD symptoms can make it difficult to establish a service connection after toxic exposure.
- APDA is advocating for policy change: Our priorities include broader eligibility for benefits, eliminating harmful solvents, and improving research and specialized care.
- Veterans’ voices can help shape the National Plan: APDA urges the Council to hear directly from veterans and military families and prioritize prevention, earlier identification, and access to care.