Sarcoidosis decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disability, and there is no evidence of service connection for sleep apnea or sarcoidosis. The preponderance of the evidence shows that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 30 percent for dermatitis with cutaneous sarcoid of the chest, back, axillary region and medial portion of the thighs was denied. The issue regarding service connection for random calcium cells was not on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and sarcoidosis as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service exposure to fumes and his current respiratory conditions.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was reopened based on new and material evidence, but a remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion.

The Veteran is entitled to a 100 percent rating for sarcoidosis due to FEV-1 less than 40 percent of the predicted value. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 have not been met.

The Veteran's sarcoid lung disease with restrictive pulmonary impairment was not found to warrant a rating higher than 60 percent from September 23, 2008.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his service-connected residuals of Hepatitis B infection, but no compensable rating for the service-connected sarcoid iritis/uveitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to decide these benefits.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is rated at 30 percent, while the other conditions remain non-compensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for sarcoidosis and residuals of thoracotomy, finding that these conditions were not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for sarcoidosis with cutaneous involvement, tension headaches, and bilateral retinal holes as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected right eye disabilities, headaches, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for sarcoidosis as there was no evidence of the condition in service or at present, and no competent medical evidence linking it to service.

The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for pilonidal cyst, bilateral defective hearing, low back disability, colon polyps, and sleep disturbance on a direct basis, and for a skin disorder, sarcoidosis, and aortic valvular disease, claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The claim of new and material evidence was also denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, but ultimately determined that the condition was not related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for a lung disability, finding that the disease process leading to the veteran's death was not attributable to his active military service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating, as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or a temporary total rating based on hospitalization.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his service-connected sarcoidosis and restrictive lung disease, effective from April 1, 2004.

The veteran's claim for service connection for urethral stricture was not reopened, but a 10 percent rating was granted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability.