Tuberculosis decisions — 2006

The veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure due to pneumonia and sepsis, with underlying conditions including COPD and pulmonary tuberculosis. The Board found no service connection for the cause of death and denied eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the cause of death (pulmonary tuberculosis) is not related to service and therefore, denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hypertensive vascular disease caused or contributed substantially to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the June 2002 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for moderately advanced chronic pulmonary tuberculosis, arrested on March 11, 1955, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of diagnostic criteria and additional medical evidence.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence. The DIC claim was also denied as the veteran was not receiving VA compensation rated as totally disabling at the time of his death.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his military service, specifically his period as a prisoner of war. The appellant did not have qualifying service for nonservice-connected death pension benefits and thus is denied those benefits. The claim for accrued benefits also failed due to lack of evidence showing entitlement.

The Board denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tuberculosis, pleurisy does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the reopening of a claim for back disability. The heart disorder and tuberculosis claims were also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and eligibility for VA death pension benefits due to a lack of qualifying military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTB, finding that clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrated that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated during service.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The Board concluded that the veteran died of pulmonary tuberculosis which was incurred in wartime service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and asthma, finding that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and consideration of all evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder manifested by chest pain and tuberculosis. The decision also noted that the veteran's claim for increased rating of cholecystectomy residuals was granted, but not appealed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, mesothelioma, and a lung disorder other than inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. The heart disorder is considered secondary to the service-connected lung disability. No new evidence was presented to reopen any previously denied claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected inactive, far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis with pleuroparenchymal thickening, parenchymal scarring and restrictive defective.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The veteran's stressor allegations will also be verified, and he will undergo appropriate examinations to determine the nature of his current disabilities.