Sarcoidosis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The issues include lung conditions, skin conditions, sleep apnea, sinus/nasal condition, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, left knee condition, and bilateral foot condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination and review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any current respiratory disorder and whether it preexisted a period of ACDUTRA or is otherwise causally related to a period of qualifying active service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a skin disability, low back disability, and pulmonary disability due to additional procedural development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis is at least as likely as not related to her active military service, and thus grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to additional evidence being submitted after the January 2020 Statement of the Case. The AOJ must review this new evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection of sarcoidosis and its secondary effects on spleen and lymph nodes. The TDIU case is also remanded due to its inextricability with other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, rendered him unable to work since October 2015. Effective from May 18, 2016, the Veteran is granted a TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for headaches, muscle pain, poikiloderma of Civatte, and sarcoidosis as the Veteran's representative withdrew all issues from the appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The decision is based on the need to locate the Veteran's July 1989 separation examination from active duty.

The Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis is rated at a 30 percent rating since January 16, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for sinusitis is dismissed as the maximum schedular rating has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for sarcoidosis with pulmonary involvement is denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to lack of cor pulmonale or cardiac involvement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for sarcoidosis as it is unclear whether there is a relationship between his current diagnosis and service. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for Bell's palsy and sarcoidosis have been dismissed due to concurrent elections under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure during active duty, prior to August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is rated at 100 percent effective February 24, 2020.,A TDIU was granted beginning March 13, 2017. The issue of a TDIU for the period when the 100 percent rating is in effect is moot due to the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status.,Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate is granted effective February 24, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sarcoidosis and asthma due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling a TERA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD and sarcoidosis are granted as both conditions were caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis has been characterized by symptoms including DLCO SB readings of 47 percent of predicted value, chronic hilar adenopathy, FEV-1/FVC levels of 57, and FEV-1 levels of 68. As of June 17, 2016, the Veteran began experiencing congestive heart failure, which supports a 100% disability rating for sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is granted service connection based on exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea and left ankle disability remains pending due to insufficient evidence.