Sarcoidosis decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected left ankle disability. The substantive appeal regarding sarcoidosis was also found to be untimely.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to address his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities, including COPD and sarcoidosis, do not render him permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes prior to February 18, 2015.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's skin disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II, and his military service. The conditions are determined to be related to periods of inactive duty.

The Veteran's initial rating for sarcoidosis was reduced from 30 percent to 0 percent effective September 1, 2009. The Board has restored the 30 percent disability rating as it is determined that there is no evidence of improvement in the condition.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for service-connected lumbar spine disability and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including sarcoidosis and its secondary effects. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to address the relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for the reduction of his GERD evaluation from 30 percent to 10 percent is granted, and he is entitled to a restoration of the 30 percent rating. The issue of the appropriate effective date for this reduction is dismissed as moot due to the grant of the reduction. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung nodules disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and could not be presumed due to herbicide exposure. The bilateral hearing loss disability was also not shown to have been caused or aggravated by service, including noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his military personnel records and VA treatment records. The claims are based on asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board due to lack of evidence supporting his assertions or current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her pituitary tumor, sarcoidosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, hypertension, sarcoidosis, a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims for chronic maxillary sinusitis, sarcoidosis, and eye disorders have been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service connected, but secondary to his service-connected GAD. Meningitis and sarcoidosis are not found to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The claim for prostate cancer is pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's lung disability, to include sarcoidosis, is being remanded for further development and consideration due to the need for clarification of the nature of his claimed condition and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other form of presumed exposure. The diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated.