Sarcoidosis Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred or aggravated during service and is otherwise unrelated to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's sarcoidosis, manifested by sarcoid uveitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to be related to service.

The veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability, sarcoidosis, and hemorrhoids have been denied.,For the cervical spine, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or chronic orthopedic and neurologic manifestations that would justify such a higher evaluation.,For sarcoidosis, a compensable rating is not warranted due to lack of persistent symptoms requiring maintenance or intermittent corticosteroids.,For hemorrhoids, the veteran's disability picture more closely resembles large or thrombotic hemorrhoids with frequent recurrences.

The veteran's sarcoidosis was rated at 60 percent from June 21, 2002 to September 9, 2002. From that date forward, the veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for his sarcoidosis. The veteran's GERD has been rated as noncompensably disabling since the effective date of service connection. Pseudofolliculitis barbae and dermatofibroma of the legs have not met criteria for compensable ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for venipuncture, postoperative residuals of an inguinal hernia, and sarcoidosis. The decision found that there was no current disability related to these conditions, and thus denied all three claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred or aggravated during his military service and is not related to any aspect of his service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with prior remand instructions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening service connection were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or new and material evidence to reopen service connection.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and granted a 10 percent initial rating for sarcoidosis as of November 28, 2000. The veteran's sarcoidosis results in FEV-1 values between 71 and 80 percent predicted or FEV-1/FVC values between 71 and 80 percent during service and since his separation from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ulcers, arthritis of multiple joints, and pulmonary sarcoidosis with exercise-induced asthma. The decision also addressed the evaluation of osteoarthritis of the spine but did not assign a specific rating as it pertained to different periods.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and VA medical records related to his sarcoidosis. A VA examination will also be conducted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for uveitis, neurosarcoidosis, and anemia. This includes obtaining treatment records, employment records, Social Security Administration records, and verifying in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, eye disorder, sarcoidosis, and dermatophytosis. The veteran did not engage in combat while in service, and his claimed stressors were not corroborated by credible supporting evidence. His hyperopia and presbyopia are considered refractive errors and cannot be service-connected as a matter of law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for sarcoidosis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's sarcoidosis is currently rated as 60 percent disabling, with no cardiac or progressive pulmonary disease demonstrated. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the absence of sufficient additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his period of active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a reduction of his TDIU rating. The motion argues this decision was incorrect due to failure to apply the correct standard for terminating TDIU.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, status post carcinoma of the right tonsil with impaired speech and decreased saliva function, and sarcoidosis. Service connection was initially granted based on presumptive exposure to Agent Orange during Vietnam service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic lung disorder, an increased rating for duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome, an initial evaluation in excess of a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, and an increased rating for nephrolithiasis. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including sarcoidosis, due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current skin condition was related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA Persian Gulf examination records and other relevant medical records.