Sarcoidosis decisions — 2007

The veteran's liver condition, including granulomatous hepatitis and sarcoidosis, is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was related to service.

The Board is unable to determine whether the veteran's sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension were caused by his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam, as the evidence is inconclusive. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a skin disorder, and sarcoid arthritis as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's sarcoidosis and service connection for Raynaud's syndrome, folliculitis, memory loss, and insomnia as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis, breathing problems, and asthma due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking sarcoidosis with fungus ball to herbicide exposure and diabetes mellitus, type II. The veteran was not granted any new rating for his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination with review of the claims file is necessary for both conditions, and remands the case back to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to appear for a VA examination and scheduling issues. The veteran's sarcoidosis claim is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, dizziness and fainting spells, pain in joints, leg cramps, anxiety and stress, and shortness of breath, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The decision is based on a finding that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis/pulmonary disorder and an enlarged uterus, status post total hysterectomy due to fibroids, both secondary to Agent G.B. (sarin) exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lung biopsy scar and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 10, 1983. The veteran's sarcoidosis is currently noncompensably disabling.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and there was no evidence linking any currently diagnosed respiratory disorder to military service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis is currently inactive and not requiring any systemic corticosteroids. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's sarcoidosis and completing any necessary tests. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's need for increased SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as her service-connected sarcoidosis did not meet the criteria for higher levels of compensation.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected post-operative enucleation of right eye, iritis with sarcoidosis and glaucoma does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains before the Board due to ongoing development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis began during service, while a lung disorder other than sarcoidosis is not shown to have been incurred in service. The arthritis of both knees is also found to have begun during service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for pulmonary sarcoidosis or dysthymia.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for Boeck's sarcoidosis is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and ensure proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disturbances, residuals of sarcoidosis, and low back disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.