Tuberculosis decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected moderately advanced chronic pulmonary tuberculosis was denied. The current effective date is not specified as the decision only addresses ratings prior to and after November 3, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected pericarditis and chronic minimal inactive pulmonary tuberculosis did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing the Veteran with a respiratory examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected respiratory disability.

The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to his service-connected bronchitis associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board denied service connection for cellulitis and PTB. The Veteran's claim of cellulitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the claimed condition, and his one instance of in-service treatment for cellulitis did not result in a residual disability at discharge. For PTB, the Board requested an opinion on whether it had its onset during service or within three years thereafter, but the examiner did not provide this information.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, resulting in a denial.

The Veteran did not have a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for any period, and therefore the appellant is not entitled to DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit new and material evidence to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, which was previously denied in April 2003.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death because no new and material evidence had been received. The RO confirmed this denial in subsequent rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have recognized POW status, and his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the June 1993 rating decision denying service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. Therefore, an effective date of October 7, 1991 is granted for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for mycobacterium tuberculosis, originally claimed as pulmonary tuberculosis, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his low back disability claim and for an increased evaluation for inactive tuberculosis. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's inactive minimal pulmonary tuberculosis with pleural effusion, finding that his clinical findings did not warrant such an evaluation given the absence of evidence of reoccurrence and the long elapse since the date of inactivity.

The Veteran's service-connected severe obstructive lung disease and pulmonary tuberculosis do not meet the criteria for automobile or adaptive equipment benefits due to lack of loss of use of a hand, foot, or ankylosis of a knee or hip.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of the Veteran's death. The April 1974 rating decision is considered final, and no new or material evidence was submitted since then.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for VCAA notice regarding service-connected conditions at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis contributed to his death from lung cancer, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete information from the appellant regarding treatment records.