Sarcoidosis Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pulmonary and cutaneous sarcoidosis, hypertension, diabetes insipidus, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, render him unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sarcoidosis first manifested within one year of his discharge from service and is therefore presumed to be related to his military service. The claim for service connection for sarcoidosis is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that noise exposure during reserve duty more likely contributed to these conditions. The claim for sarcoidosis was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service occurrence. The eye disorder claim is pending.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorders, low back disorder, and PTSD have been previously denied. New evidence has not raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's right foot and heel disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and missing treatment records, as well as the need for a hearing on her sarcoidosis claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lung disabilities, including emphysema and sarcoidosis, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the most probative evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The July 2003 rating decision denied service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that it was not a presumptive disease and the evidence did not establish a direct nexus to service. The Veteran's claim is now being reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to massive pulmonary hemorrhage, but the Board is remanding the case for additional development regarding whether his sarcoidosis and other conditions are related to service, including exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis is currently rated at 30% prior to May 21, 2009 and at 60% thereafter. The RO has granted a higher rating of 60%, effective May 21, 2009. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis with liver involvement is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a higher rating of 60 percent since April 17, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis has rendered him unemployable since July 1, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis has been reopened. The Board found no evidence of a chronic lung disability during or after service, but new medical evidence supports the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection was denied for an eye disability due to lack of current evidence of impairment. The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent and the claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The other conditions are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disorder other than pulmonary sarcoidosis, including as due to in-service exposure to Agent Orange, was denied. The Board found no current evidence of such a condition and noted that the Veteran had already been granted service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as there was no evidence showing systemic high dose corticosteroids were required to control his condition. The medical records showed he had been maintained on oral inhalers without side effects and did not require systemic steroids.

The Board found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and a low back disorder are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records, which may indicate exposure to asbestos or an injury in service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if he has these conditions and whether they are related to service.