Sarcoidosis Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to December 22, 2017 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his hearing loss.,Service connection for left knee disability and right knee status post medial meniscectomy are remanded due to insufficient medical examination or opinion regarding etiology.

The Veteran's uveitis with glaucoma resulted in a temporary total rating based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence from September 9, 2016 to October 10, 2016. The claim for increased ratings for pulmonary sarcoidosis and seborrheic dermatitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are related to his active service, with particular focus on exposure to herbicides during his time aboard the USS Midway in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis and a heart condition other than coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for persistent depressive disorder was denied. The effective date of the 70 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder was set at September 12, 2016. The previously denied claims for service connection were reopened.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected sarcoidosis, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to perform daily activities and protect him from hazards in his environment.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis rating is being remanded for further evaluation, including an eye examination to determine if his vision complaints are related to the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and sarcoidosis due to incomplete development, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of service. The Veteran will need VA examinations to address whether his current diagnoses are related to in-service incidents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, left foot disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The claim for service connection for gout has been granted. The claims for myelodysplastic syndrome, prostate cancer or prostate enlargement, iron toxicity, thrombocytopenia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and depression have been remanded.,The claims for sarcoidosis and pleural effusion have also been remanded. Additionally, the cause of death claim has been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sarcoidosis, or any other diagnosed respiratory disability, was not caused by his service and remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis of lungs and skin, granulomatous disease of the lungs, and emphysema has been granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sarcoidosis and lymphadenopathy for further examination as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on their relationship to service.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's kidney stones are found to be secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis medication.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating, but the right hip disability claim for service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset during his ACDUTRA period.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive asthma, sarcoidosis, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to environmental irritants during service is conceded.

The Veteran's claims for rating reductions, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates are pending. The SMC claim is also pending as it may be affected by the outcome of these other claims.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis of the lung was granted a 60% rating from March 19, 2015 to December 1, 2016 and a 100% rating since December 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a need for regular aid and attendance, thus SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied.