Sarcoidosis decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder including seborrheic dermatitis, and sarcoidosis of the lungs, skin, and epididymis. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has ordered the case remanded to the RO for additional development and adjudication due to incomplete records and lack of a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic lung condition, sarcoidosis to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including low back pain with degenerative arthritis, arthritis of the right knee, medial collateral ligament strain of the left knee, residuals of resection of the left clavicle, residuals of a left lung resection with history of sarcoidosis, duodenal ulcer, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of earlier effective date for diabetes type II and initial disability evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, an increased rating for sarcoidosis, and an increased rating for healed fracture, right ankle. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran suffered from these conditions or that they were related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis, when evaluated based on pre-October 7, 1996 criteria, did not warrant a compensable rating. The claim for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service. Right leg shortening was also denied due to lack of medical support and its presumed congenital nature.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis/interstitial lung disease, finding that it is related to the veteran's period of active duty service. The other issues on appeal are deferred and will be addressed upon completion of additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sarcoidosis, and bronchitis, as well as her claim for an increased rating for sinusitis. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for chronic pansinusitis under the criteria in effect prior to October 7, 1996.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, right medial collateral ligament strain, and prostate disorder. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and determine whether new stressors occurred during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection due to sarcoidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, finding that the earliest possible effective date is April 15, 1999.

The Board has granted service connection for post-operative left spermatocele residuals and remanded the issues of initial evaluations for sarcoidosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, dermatofibromas of the legs, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions related to his active service were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have any of these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis and awarded a 100% evaluation for hypertension. The other issues were either withdrawn or dismissed.