Sarcoidosis decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and thus, she is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sarcoidosis does not result in any active symptoms or require treatment, and therefore, a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining the etiology of his sarcoidosis and kidney disability.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is found to have first manifested during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis did not manifest during her active duty service and is not otherwise etiologically related to her military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis was not manifested by cor pulmonale, cardiac involvement with congestive heart failure, or progressive disease with fever, night sweats and weight loss despite treatment prior to August 19, 2008. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent disabling prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis was rated at 30 percent prior to January 30, 2012 and in excess of 30 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6846 or 6600.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis, diabetes mellitus, and CAD due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied in September 2010 and not reopened. The evidence received since that decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroparesis with chronic stomach pain (stomach condition) was reopened due to new evidence showing a positive relationship between the condition and sarcoidosis, which is already service-connected. The claim remains denied as there is no direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sarcoidosis and service connection for diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for lung disorder, liver disorder, tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sarcoidosis, including whether it is related to his in-service environmental exposures or his in-service tuberculosis. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for direct service connection and noting no evidence of Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sarcoidosis (including symptoms such as lumps, skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, and difficulty breathing) has been withdrawn by the appellant's attorney.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis and denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive cardiovascular disease and hypertension render him unemployable as of May 27, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed sarcoidosis did not manifest during his period of service and is less likely related to exposure to environmental hazards. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected sarcoidosis-bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred in service and is not shown to be caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The right ankle, knee, thumb, and thigh herpes zoster disabilities are also not shown to be related to her service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's common variable immune deficiency was first manifested during service or caused by chemical exposures in service, which led to his secondary conditions including asthma, mycoplasma infection, chronic bronchitis, and residuals of pneumonia. Service connection is granted for these secondary conditions.