Tuberculosis decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to or caused his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's periods of active duty or active duty for training and his medical treatment related to tuberculosis and ear problems. The AOJ will determine if a VA examination is needed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right leg and foot, with arthritis, and a left index finger disorder. The back and pulmonary tuberculosis issues are remanded for further development.

The veteran died of pneumonia, which was not service-connected. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death and determined that the veteran did not meet eligibility requirements for VA death pension benefits.

The VA has granted an effective date of July 26, 2001 for a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected pleurisy and tuberculosis (TB) disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his status as a former POW in World War II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tuberculosis, lymphadenitis, inactive, with scar in neck does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and tuberculosis, finding that there is no competent medical evidence to support these conditions.

The case is being remanded for the retrieval of medical records and a readjudication of the issues on appeal. The veteran's cause of death may be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was not related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran died from advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, but there is no service connection for this condition. The appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits and accrued benefits was denied due to lack of qualifying service and late filing.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that none of them were incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service records did not show any evidence of shrapnel wounds, peptic ulcer disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, left shoulder fractures, myocardial infarction, bronchitis, or psychoneurosis with depressive reaction during the veteran's military service.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for lung cancer with scars and nodules on the lungs, as secondary to mustard gas exposure. The VA has fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining evidence necessary to substantiate the claim for residuals of mustard gas exposure, including tuberculosis; pain and weakness in the arms, back and legs; loss of balance; loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing; and bleeding gums and an oral rash. However, there is no evidence of mustard gas exposure or a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence associated with the claims folder, specifically a medical certificate from Dr. Philbert M. Liceralbe dated April 2004.

The Board finds that the veteran's current COPD and PTB are not related to his period of active service. Service connection is granted for changes in the lungs consistent with asbestos exposure, but denied for other respiratory disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's inactive pulmonary tuberculosis does not warrant a compensable disability evaluation.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), anemia, and ulcer as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for VA benefits due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted documents did not establish qualifying service.

The Board found that the additional evidence received since February 2000 does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, and thus, the claim may not be reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected tuberculosis of the kidneys with ulceration of urinary bladder.