Sarcoidosis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, as the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding its relationship to his combat service.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder including sarcoidosis, presumed due to herbicide exposure, is also granted.

The Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis was evaluated at a 30 percent disability rating since March 23, 2010. The VA determined that the Veteran’s condition did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Codes 6846 and 6600.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and pulmonary sarcoidosis, as these conditions may be related to his military service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are linked to his time in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the lung condition and hearing loss. The Board will schedule a VA examination to determine if the lung condition is related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer (due to herbicide exposure), and sarcoidosis (due to herbicide exposure) as they are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis (to include sleep apnea) is rated at a 30 percent disability from October 17, 2006 to May 19, 2009 and at a 60 percent disability from May 19, 2009 to July 16, 2013. The Veteran's sarcoidosis is not rated higher than 60 percent since July 16, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is now in receipt of a 10 percent disability rating for chondromalacia, right knee prior to August 31, 2015, and a 30 percent disability rating from that date forward. His claim for increased ratings for sarcoidosis of the lung remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination. The Veteran's sarcoidosis is presumed related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted service connection with effective dates of July 30, 2016, and September 25, 2013 respectively.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claims are reopened as new evidence supports reopening, but no rating or effective date is assigned yet.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder and sarcoidosis have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for sinusitis, GERD, and a higher rating than 30 percent for sarcoidosis with pulmonary/sinonasal involvement are being remanded due to the need for additional evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation and asbestos, as they are related to his claimed conditions of growth in lungs (claimed as possible cancer), sarcoidosis, and lupus. The claims will be further developed with additional medical examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, effectively dismissing all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for sarcoidosis and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection based on exposure to jet fuel in service. The Veteran is now entitled to a rating for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis has been rated at 60 percent since January 4, 2012. The condition requires systemic high dose corticosteroids for control.

The Veteran's hypertension and sarcoidosis claims have been denied. The hypertension claim is denied as the blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The sarcoidosis claim is also denied because there is no evidence of pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose corticosteroids.

The Board denied service connection for sarcoidosis, a left great toe disorder, and right leg disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory symptoms.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Appellant did not meet the criteria for VA dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.