Sarcoidosis decisions — 2002

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved representation issues and incomplete development of records, including a need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for sarcoidosis and bilateral inguinal hernias, finding that the conditions did not begin during active duty or manifest within one year thereafter, and were not caused by any incident of service including service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lung dysfunction is service-connected, with the condition likely to be related to his in-service symptoms.

The veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the assignment of a combined 40 percent evaluation for sarcoidosis. As such, there are no remaining allegations of error within the Board's jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hodgkin's disease, which was incurred due to his service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange, contributed substantially or materially to his death from pneumonia.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on systemic high dose corticosteroids or severe limitations in lung function.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her sarcoidosis, right knee disability, and fibroid uterus with cervical dysplasia. The veteran's sarcoidosis was not found to meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of significant pulmonary involvement or systemic symptoms. Her right knee disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to limited motion but no instability or subluxation. Her fibroid uterus with cervical dysplasia met the criteria for a 30 percent rating as her symptoms were not entirely controlled with continuous treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any toxin exposure during his Gulf War service. As a result, the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis is denied.

The Board has determined that sarcoidosis was not incurred or aggravated during service and cannot be presumed to have been incurred due to the one-year presumption period. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is new and material to reopen the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis. The veteran's sarcoidosis was incurred in service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for COPD with history of sarcoidosis, finding that the evidence supports this level of disability based on recent pulmonary function test results.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a throat condition and sarcoidosis, finding no current evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, are not sufficiently disabling to render him unable to obtain and retain all kinds of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for sarcoidosis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from December 1, 1992 through October 6, 1996 and found no basis to grant a rating in excess of 30 percent after April 13, 1999.

The veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis, with history of bilateral carotid gland enlargement and asthma, has been granted ratings from December 14, 1981 to the present.