Tuberculosis decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for recurrent tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with bronchitis is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent for recurrent tinnitus has been assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for arthritis, tuberculosis, heart disease, and hypertension as there is no competent evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tuberculosis is inactive and does not have any residuals, thus denying a compensable rating for tuberculosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of tuberculosis, including calcified granuloma and parenchymal scarring of the upper right lobe, is granted as his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's chronic low back pain, right upper lobe pleura disability (now claimed as tuberculosis [TB]), and irritable bowel syndrome are all found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's tuberculosis pleurisy with effusion has been inactive since 1953 and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board finds that the Veteran's inactive tuberculosis pre-existed service entrance and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of residuals of exposure to tuberculosis, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of tuberculosis or emphysema, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The VA examiner found no objective evidence of claimed tuberculosis and opined that the Veteran's current severe obstructive ventilator dysfunction (emphysema) was not caused by or the result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB), was not related to his active military service and did not manifest within three years of separation from active service. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left (minor) index finger injury and bilateral PF. The claims for service connection for residuals of allergic reaction to INH therapy, TB, and DVT have been denied as there are no current residuals or evidence of a disease in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of recurrent major depressive disorder with anxiety features is denied as the earliest date of entitlement precedes the date of the reopened claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits and did not address service connection issues. The decision is final.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for tuberculosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of evidence linking his tuberculosis to service, despite post-service medical records indicating possible development during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his separation code, further details surrounding the events he claims caused his claimed disabilities, and to obtain any outstanding private treatment records from the Martin Luther King Clinic.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids disability. The TDIU claim was not addressed due to its being part of an increased rating claim.

The Veteran's tuberculosis with pleural effusion and pneumothorax disability is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition. The case will be readjudicated after this development.