Sarcoidosis decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA social and industrial survey to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected sarcoidosis and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis has been denied as he does not have a current disability. The claim for VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a supplemental medical opinion from an examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not due to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis was granted with an effective date of June 23, 1986. The Board found that the Veteran had a condition in service and VA received his original claim on this date.

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatic failure, metastatic adenocarcinoma, and adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon. The service-connected anal fistula did not contribute to his death. The Board found that pulmonary sarcoidosis pre-existed service entrance but was not permanently aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sarcoidosis with lung granulomas originated during his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, including arthritis and sarcoidosis, is not service connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for sarcoidosis were denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied. The effective dates of the increases do not date back to the date of the initial claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing chest X-rays and issues are inextricably intertwined. The Veteran's heart condition claim is deferred until these records are obtained.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed pulmonary disabilities, including sarcoidosis, asthma, and sleep apnea, were not incurred in service or due to exposure to hazardous environmental conditions during the Persian Gulf War. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran requested a hearing but later withdrew her appeal. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 50% and his pulmonary sarcoidosis with bronchitis and reactive obstructive airway disease is rated at 60%. Both conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for sinusitis and pansinusitis, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6510. A separate 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis was granted effective December 8, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sarcoidosis is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis was previously denied in 2002. New evidence submitted since that time has not raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with Prinzmetal's angina, finding it presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The effective date is set at August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis has not required systemic high dose corticosteroids for control, and thus a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that the Veteran's assertions and medical records support a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The claim is now resolved in his favor.