Sarcoidosis decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and VA medical records related to his sarcoidosis. A VA examination will also be conducted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for uveitis, neurosarcoidosis, and anemia. This includes obtaining treatment records, employment records, Social Security Administration records, and verifying in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, eye disorder, sarcoidosis, and dermatophytosis. The veteran did not engage in combat while in service, and his claimed stressors were not corroborated by credible supporting evidence. His hyperopia and presbyopia are considered refractive errors and cannot be service-connected as a matter of law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for sarcoidosis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's sarcoidosis is currently rated as 60 percent disabling, with no cardiac or progressive pulmonary disease demonstrated. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the absence of sufficient additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his period of active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a reduction of his TDIU rating. The motion argues this decision was incorrect due to failure to apply the correct standard for terminating TDIU.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, status post carcinoma of the right tonsil with impaired speech and decreased saliva function, and sarcoidosis. Service connection was initially granted based on presumptive exposure to Agent Orange during Vietnam service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic lung disorder, an increased rating for duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome, an initial evaluation in excess of a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, and an increased rating for nephrolithiasis. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including sarcoidosis, due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current skin condition was related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA Persian Gulf examination records and other relevant medical records.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for residuals of fractures to the left 4th and 5th ribs, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and sarcoidosis were denied. The VA examinations conducted in March 2000 and December 2005 supported these decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder and initial evaluations for sarcoidosis, paresthesis of the right lower extremity, and paresthesis of the left lower extremity. The issues were not related to any service-connected disability or exposure basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of CUE in the September 1946 and March 1993 rating decisions, finding that neither decision contained clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for liver involvement and an effective date for fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, refractive error (claimed as poor eyesight), asthma, bronchitis, bursitis of the left shoulder, mood disorder due to sarcoidosis and depression, rash, and hypertension are not established by the evidence of record. The conditions were either not caused by service or have no relationship to service.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and/or special home adaptation grant is denied as it does not qualify as a periodic monetary benefit for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has restored the appellant's service-connected central nervous system sarcoidosis rating from 80 percent to 10 percent effective from November 1, 1994.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis, hypertension, and psychiatric disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as there is no showing of respiratory symptomatology attributable to the condition. The veteran's current respiratory symptoms are associated with his nonservice-connected bronchogenic carcinoma.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.