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Can I be in the military with sarcoidosis?

Can I be in the military with sarcoidosis?

For sarcoidosis, there are more specific requirements to prove a presumptive service connection. These include that your condition must be severe enough to warrant a 10% or greater VA rating (see below) and you must have served in the military for at least 90 consecutive days.

Is sarcoidosis considered a disability?

If you have been diagnosed with sarcoidosis and you have worked in the past and paid taxes and you expect that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months you can file a claim for Social Security disability benefits.

Does sarcoidosis weaken your immune system?

The original findings of peripheral anergy in sarcoidosis led to the conclusion that sarcoidosis was a disease associated with immune deficiency, but patients with sarcoidosis do not appear to suffer from repeated infections suggestive of immune suppression.

Can Agent Orange cause sarcoidosis?

putative exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicidal concoctions used in [southeast] Asia[,] because Agent Orange exposure is not known or suspected of causing sarcoidosis or bronchiectasis.” Id., slip op.

Does sarcoidosis shorten your life?

Usually the disease is not disabling; most people with sarcoidosis live normal lives. In fact, in the majority of cases, the disease appears only briefly and disappears on its own. About 20% to 30% of people with sarcoidosis are left with some permanent lung damage, and in 10% to 15% of patients the disease is chronic.

Should I work with sarcoidosis?

While there are many patients with sarcoidosis who are able to work, when sarcoidosis affects the vital organs, such as the lungs and heart, or when it produces severe constitutional symptoms, such as extreme tiredness or fatigue, then some patients may no longer be able to perform even sedentary work (a “desk job”).

What should I avoid with sarcoidosis?

Foods you shouldn’t eat and other things to avoid if you have sarcoidosis include:

  • Refrain from eating foods with refined grains, such as white bread and pasta.
  • Cut back on red meat.
  • Avoid foods with trans-fatty acids, such as commercially processed baked goods, french fries, and margarine.

What actor died from sarcoidosis?

But the disease has perhaps gotten the most attention from the untimely death of actor-comedian Bernie Mac last week. Mac battled the illness, which had plagued him with lung problems, for 25 years before he died Aug. 9, at the age of 50.

Who are most at risk for sarcoidosis in the military?

When the United States Navy and the CDC looked into the prevalence of sarcoidosis and military service, they found something surprising. Military members who served on aircraft carrier ships had a significantly higher rate of sarcoidosis of the lung.

Are there veterans with chronic sarcoidosis of the lung?

Military-related chronic sarcoidosis of the lung was also found in barbers, mechanics, dry cleaners, and even mess management workers aboard these aircraft carriers. So far, the VA has only found a presumptive service connection for chronic sarcoidosis of the lung.

Can a person with chronic sarcoidosis file for disability?

So far, the VA has only found a presumptive service connection for chronic sarcoidosis of the lung. That means you can only apply for VA disability benefits if you’ve received a diagnosis for this type of sarcoidosis.

Can a person with sarcoidosis never know they have it?

Many people with sarcoidosis never know they have the disorder because their symptoms appear briefly before mysteriously disappearing for good. Still, estimates show that 20-30% of people do experience permanent lung damage from sarcoidosis of the lung. Others undergo a complete break down of the organ infected with granulomas.

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Ruth Doyle