Tuberculosis decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his service-connection claim for tuberculosis, finding that new and material evidence did not show the presence of a current disability.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal of service connection for tuberculosis, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded other claims due to outstanding VA treatment records, private treatment records from Dr. Shah, and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis was denied as there is no diagnosis of the condition. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, and a remand was ordered to obtain additional evidence related to his dental disorder and psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were not granted due to lack of current diagnoses or sufficient evidence supporting the requested increases.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for tuberculosis and remanded the radiculopathy issue due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for thyroid cancer, breast mass, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, digestive disorder, respiratory condition, upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and others.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to myocardial infarction caused by respiratory failure and lung cancer. The Board denied an earlier effective date prior to June 5, 2000 for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as not related to service, and the claim for tuberculosis was reopened but denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and pulmonary tuberculosis, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for tuberculosis is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C is granted. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.,A disability manifested by cramps in the thighs and legs has not been established.,Service connection for a hammertoe of the right foot has not been established.,Allergic rhinitis did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,Hypertension did not have its onset in service; did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; and is not otherwise related to service.,Erectile dysfunction did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,A prostate disorder did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,Toenail fungus did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,An acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disorder was dismissed as the Veteran did not file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).,VA denied the Veteran's tuberculosis claim in March 1996, and it became final. The Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for back pain as due to an undiagnosed illness, but denied the remaining issues of service connection for vision disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, latent tuberculosis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a pulmonary mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, with residual apical scarring and obstructive pulmonary disease (including emphysema and bronchiectasis), is denied.

The Veteran's tuberculosis is denied as there is no current disability, only a positive PPD test result.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is denied because he was not receiving or entitled to receive compensation for tuberculosis on August 19, 1968.

The Board determined that the reduction of the rating for tuberculosis with right parenchymal scarring from 100 percent to 30 percent was proper, as the Veteran's condition had improved and he was now rated under Diagnostic Code 6604.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis, tuberculosis, bilateral hearing loss disability, recurrent left mandible lesion status post removal with anesthesia at mental distribution, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right heel spur are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a noncompensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, a separate 10 percent rating for facial asymmetry due to the left mandible lesion, and a separate 10 percent rating for incomplete paralysis of the trigeminal nerve. A higher rating in excess of 30 percent from February 2, 2016 is granted for his recurrent left mandible lesion status post removal with anesthesia at mental distribution. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with right heel spur is rated at the maximum assignable under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The specific conditions include low back strain, hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and residuals of exposure to tuberculosis disease.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low blood cell count, respiratory disorder, swelling of the extremities, back disorder, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, bladder disorder, IBS (bowel disorder), dental disorder, and schizophrenia have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of these claims.