Sarcoidosis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to scheduling issues with VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that she must participate in these examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between her current condition and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and exposure history, particularly concerning diabetes mellitus type II, polycythemia vera, and sarcoidosis. The Veteran is presumed exposed to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for headaches.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and has granted a TDIU. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for sarcoidosis remains pending as it requires further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding asbestos exposure, etiology of sarcoidosis and emphysema, and service connection on theories other than direct.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claims of sarcoidosis and TBI. The case is now back at the Board.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for scars, including surgical excision due to melanoma and appendectomy, has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection and related reopening claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cataracts have been granted a separate 10 percent rating due to their association with sarcoidosis treatment. The issue of a compensable rating for ocular sarcoidosis with retinal tears is remanded.

The Veteran's asthma, diabetes mellitus type II, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sarcoidosis claims have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating for hypertension but not an increased rating. His service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis with asthma prior to July 31, 2019 is rated at 30 percent. From July 31, 2019 to April 11, 2022, the rating is increased to 60 percent. Since April 11, 2022, the Veteran's sarcoidosis with asthma is rated at 100 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining an additional medical opinion from a pulmonologist.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the Veteran's in-service symptoms did not relate to his later-diagnosed sarcoidosis.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinion regarding noise exposure during service.

Your claim for service connection for sarcoidosis has been fully granted, and the issue is no longer in appellate status.

The Veteran is granted a higher rate of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions, which include generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, cardiomegaly associated with generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, bilateral diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and cataract, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, major depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, and dermatitis. The Veteran is in receipt of a combined total evaluation for compensation of 100 percent from July 22, 2008.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because there was insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, MDD, PTSD, GERD, migraine headaches, sarcoidosis, and skin lesions/lesions on back are remanded.,An effective date prior to March 10, 2016 for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sarcoidosis is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.