Tuberculosis decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic tuberculosis (TB), was not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service or within one year after separation and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for renal tuberculosis and hypertension have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic lung disability in service or within the presumptive period following service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis did not have its onset in service and was not caused by any incident of service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence showing that the tuberculosis was related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's inactive pulmonary tuberculosis did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tuberculosis.

The Veteran's disabilities, including anemia, hemorrhoids, hypertension, mild cataracts, pancolitis, positive testing for tuberculosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), anxiety, and alcohol abuse, do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education, and work experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis is being remanded to the RO for further review of additional evidence, including a June 2007 VA opinion and any other newly submitted evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to revoke forfeiture of VA benefits due to fraudulent medical evidence submitted in support of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide updated opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical records review.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for COPD with emphysema and denied entitlement to service connection for CAD as secondary to COPD. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's current pulmonary symptoms are not attributed to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The RO denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to pulmonary tuberculosis, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The decision became final as she did not file a timely notice of disagreement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development of evidence. The effective date claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no competent medical nexus indicating its onset in service or secondary to a service-connected disability. Hypertension and heart disabilities are also denied as there is no credible evidence linking them to service, including service-connected conditions.