Tuberculosis decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the cause of death (pulmonary fibrosis) is not related to service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, and therefore denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his claim for a compensable disability rating for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis residuals with pleural effusion.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his pulmonary tuberculosis, far advanced, inactive with COPD and bronchitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to assess the severity of his left hip avascular necrosis and low back disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, are not sufficient to produce unemployability. The evidence shows that his non-service connected disabilities play a larger role in his inability to work.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his cause of death due to pulmonary tuberculosis residuals, entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), and accrued benefits for lung cancer. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's lung cancer was caused by or related to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence. The recent medical opinion did not provide sufficient objective evidence linking the veteran's service-connected tuberculosis to his cause of death.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and material.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for right kidney tuberculosis infection, status post nephrectomy, finding that it is related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board found that the evidence submitted was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for tuberculosis.

The Board found that the appellant's husband died from tuberculosis of the spine, which was not service-connected. The claims for cause of death and nonservice-connected death pension were denied as there is no evidence linking his death to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current pulmonary tuberculosis is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. With application of the doctrine of reasonable doubt, it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's fatal pulmonary tuberculosis began during active service.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis, as neither condition developed in service or is otherwise causally related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and diverticulitis, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The veteran was not diagnosed with active tuberculosis during or after service, and there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of diverticulitis.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for chronic pulmonary tuberculosis, finding no active disease within six years preceding his claim and concluding that a higher rating is not warranted.

The veteran died of lung cancer, which was not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's death to his service-connected residuals of an appendectomy or any other incident of service. The preponderance of the evidence is against service connection for the cause of death.