Sarcoidosis decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sacroidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is being remanded due to a need to review his military service personnel records and consider 10 U.S.C. § 1218.

The Board granted an effective date of April 30, 2000 for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has not addressed the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, but has found that his sarcoidosis with postoperative scars, thoracotomy, and pulmonary fibrosis warrants a 30 percent rating. The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is still pending as new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen it.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration disability file.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed sarcoidosis and squamous cell carcinoma, to include whether they are related to herbicide exposure. The claims will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for sarcoidosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pulmonary sarcoidosis was denied because he failed to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis was reopened, and the Board found that it was present within one year of separation from service. However, there is no evidence to show that the condition manifested to a compensable degree during this period or at any time thereafter. The claim for hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VCAA notice and need for a medical opinion regarding the onset of sarcoidosis in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the issues of service connection and reopening a previously denied claim were addressed. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection was also granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and numbness and tingling of the bilateral legs as secondary to service-connected mechanical low back strain. The Veteran's sarcoidosis of the thighs, arms, and legs and pulmonary sarcoidosis were both rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis was denied. The August 1998 denial of service connection for dizziness, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is final. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for dizziness.

The VA determined that the appellant's sarcoidosis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it has not been productive of pulmonary involvement requiring chronic low dose (maintenance) or intermittent corticosteroids.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete opinions from the VA examiners.