Tuberculosis decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for neuritis, chest and back pain was denied. The claim for a 30 percent rating for chronic bronchitis with history of tuberculosis infection with disease, inactive, was granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for duodenal ulcer was denied.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 8, 2003, for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for inactive chronic pulmonary tuberculosis is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence to support entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis is currently inactive and does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Board finds that the cause of the veteran's death, nonsmall cell lung cancer, was not caused or substantially contributed to by his service-connected tuberculosis. The appellant has presented evidence suggesting a possible link between prior tuberculosis and increased susceptibility to lung cancer, but this is outweighed by the clinical evidence indicating no such relationship.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for bronchiectasis and also denied a compensable rating for pulmonary tuberculosis. The veteran's claims were based on inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, but no new evidence was provided to reopen the claim.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, anxiety reaction, and a positive tuberculosis tine test result claimed to be manifested by emphysema. The Board has ordered remand due to incomplete service medical records and the need to verify her periods of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his congestive heart failure or pulmonary tuberculosis to his active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder, which is now granted. The veteran's current anxiety disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits due to his unemployability being primarily attributed to substance abuse, and not due to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for cholera, PTB, and PTSD. The right knee scar was also denied a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with lobectomy of the right upper lobe was granted, and he is now receiving a 30 percent evaluation effective March 1997.

The Board found that the cause of the decedent's death, pulmonary tuberculosis, was not related to service and denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and additional development is required before a decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right eye disability and psychiatric disability, finding no current disabilities. The claim to reopen a spinal disorder with tuberculosis was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and also denied her claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.