Sarcoidosis decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and found that the Veteran's current asthma is related to her active service. The other issues on appeal are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's sarcoidosis, which may be related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service, is related to his death. The VA also needs to obtain SSA disability benefits records and review them by a physician.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including statements from the appellant indicating that the Veteran's sarcoidosis was related to his active service.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis with bronchial asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating for this condition. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his lung function tests show FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC scores within normal limits.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis, but failed to apply the correct regulations regarding reduction of disability ratings. The decision is reversed and the TDIU is restored.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at his local RO. The issues include reopening and service connection claims, as well as rating determinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to non-compliance with previous instructions regarding a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's name is placed on the docket for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, including asthma and sarcoidosis of the lung with shortness of breath, did not manifest in service or within the first post-service year. The Board also determined that there was no evidence to support a finding that the disabilities were related to service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis requires only low-dose corticosteroids for control and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for sarcoidosis, finding no new and material evidence was received since the April 2008 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sarcoidosis and right knee disorder are not related to her military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis has been medically linked to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying the appellant's exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has decided that the case needs to be returned for additional development due to incomplete records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further VA examinations and opinions are needed to resolve the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence and lack of definitive diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD, as due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the current severity of his service-connected sarcoidosis and whether sleep apnea was incurred during active service. The Veteran also needs to provide evidence supporting that his child K. graduated from high school in May 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease is not related to service or his service-connected sarcoidosis, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The ratings for sarcoidosis and glaucoma are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or higher ratings.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for gastritis with duodenitis, 30 percent for sarcoidosis, or any other conditions.