Sarcoidosis decisions — 2024

Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis as due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia. Service connection is granted for bronchiectasis, restrictive lung disease (sarcoidosis), residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, sleep apnea, and COPD as due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents or as secondary to coronary artery disease.,Service connection is remanded for rheumatoid arthritis, bronchiectasis, restrictive lung disease (sarcoidosis), residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, sleep apnea, and COPD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of residuals of sarcoidosis, and the Board dismissed the case as there is no longer a case in controversy.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is caused by service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection cannot be established for kidney disease as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year following service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that it was related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 27, 2013 for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for sarcoidosis. The medical evidence supports that the appellant's sarcoidosis was actively manifested with pulmonary involvement requiring chronic low dose corticosteroids at the time his claim was received.

The Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis was evaluated as noncompensable due to the absence of symptoms requiring corticosteroids or other compensatory measures, and no evidence of progressive disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis of the lungs and skin due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA will obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure as a firefighter and military deployment.

The Veteran's OSA with emphysema, sarcoidosis, and bronchiectasis has been rated at 50 percent since December 12, 2012. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sarcoidosis due to a lack of a medical opinion addressing the potential nexus between the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and other irritants during military service and his current diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The VA is required to obtain an examination and provide a medical opinion under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been granted at a 70 percent level, effective April 25, 2020. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for heart condition and sarcoidosis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sarcoidosis has been dismissed as the request was concurrent with another review option.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea and sarcoidosis, finding that no new evidence was submitted within one year of the August 2017 denial.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis disability is rated at 60 percent, but the Board found that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis is granted, with the issue being decided under the PACT Act presumption of exposure to burn pits and toxins.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is granted as service connected, and the intestinal and stomach condition (diagnosed as sarcoidosis in the ileum and abdomen) is also granted as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is related to his in-service exposure to burn pits, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, and pharyngitis. Service connection is also denied for acute otitis media. The cases of sarcoidosis and myelomalacia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound status and aid and attendance was denied as there is no evidence of permanent disability requiring regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's rating for left eye disorder was reduced from 20% to 0%, effective June 9, 2020. Her claim for increased rating of sarcoidosis was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for sarcoidosis was denied, and the Board has remanded his claim of service connection for a left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis and sleep disability (including sleep apnea) due to errors in the AOJ decision, including a failure to consider new evidence and an error in characterizing the issues on appeal. The VA will need to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service or any toxic exposures.