Sarcoidosis decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected right femur fracture was granted a 10 percent rating effective April 1, 2009.,Service connection for sarcoidosis is granted.

The Board found that sarcoidosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. Service connection for sarcoidosis is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic lung disability in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion from a qualified VA physician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death, including potential asbestos exposure in service and after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. However, his claim for an increased evaluation of sarcoidosis was granted.,Since April 12, 2010, the Veteran is now rated at 30% for sarcoidosis.

The Veteran claims that his diabetes mellitus type II is secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The Board has decided this case should be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not worsen during his second period of active duty service and denied entitlement to service connection for this condition. The claim for sarcoidosis was addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis has been rated at 60 percent since March 16, 2009. The medical evidence indicates that this disability renders him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis did not have a direct link to his service, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to service and treatment for sarcoidosis, granting his claim.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis resulted in a pulmonary function test result on DLCO of 65 percent predicted, meeting the criteria for a 30% rating since it did not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The effective date is to be determined based on when the increased rating became effective.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and that the current condition is not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of death and for accrued benefits purposes due to lung cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in sarcoidosis severity prior to September 17, 2004, warranting a 100% rating. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of sarcoidosis as a result of chemical exposure, specifically burn pit exposure. The Veteran is to be provided an examination and asked to clarify his claims regarding in-service exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis with postoperative scars, thoracotomy, and pulmonary fibrosis is currently rated at 60 percent from September 23, 2010. The condition was previously rated as 30 percent prior to that date.

The Board found that the May 8, 1981 rating decision was not based on CUE and denied the Veteran's claim for a prior effective date.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the September 8, 1965 rating decision that denied service connection for sarcoidosis. The Veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of evidence showing CUE.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased rating, and service connection are denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records from his Army National Guard and Army Reserve service.