Sarcoidosis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sarcoidosis is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and research into his claimed stressors. The Veteran is also seeking a higher disability rating for his left thumb condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for eczema/sarcoidosis of the skin, pulmonary condition (sarcoidosis of the lungs), and lumbar spine condition due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to reconcile the Veteran's testimony at his hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical opinions and need for additional development regarding in-service exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of malignant melanoma of the right arm is granted, and he is awarded a 60 percent rating for sarcoidosis. He also receives TDIU benefits effective from July 21, 2009, when his additional disabilities other than sarcoidosis independently rated at 60 percent or more were established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease and that exposure to asbestos did not cause the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the severity of the Veteran's sarcoidosis, specifically missing DLCO readings. The Veteran is seeking a higher initial rating for his sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for restrictive lung disease, obstructive lung disease, and sinusitis due to potential issues with medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims will be further developed before being readjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea with sarcoidosis, right foot hammertoes with corns, and left foot hammertoes with corns, were found to be sufficient for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 2, 2014. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was also established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 30, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including OSA, sarcoidosis, back disability, radiculopathy, and hip disabilities are granted. However, some issues remain remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for pulmonary histoplasmosis and/or sarcoidosis, as well as his claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to January 3, 2022, require further examination and review. The case is being remanded due to lack of opinion on suppressive therapy use and change in diagnosis from histoplasmosis to sarcoidosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his military service. The appeal was not based on a presumption of service connection due to exposure to burn pits or other specific conditions.