Tuberculosis decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis. The Veteran's January 1993 VA treatment record, July 2010 VA treatment record, and October 2016 and September 2018 VA treatment records show current treatment for respiratory illnesses.

The Board has restored a 100% rating for residuals of tuberculosis, finding that the evidence does not support reducing the disability rating from 100% to 60%. The Veteran's condition is still considered active and close to respiratory limitation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with COPD is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's 100% schedular rating for PTSD with major depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep impairment and depression are dismissed as the appeal is moot since service connection already exists for these symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for pulmonary tuberculosis with secondary collapse of the left lower lobe was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent evaluation, but no higher. The Board also granted the Appellant's request to be substituted for the Veteran in this appeal and found that he met the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for tuberculosis. The claims for service connection for right shoulder, bilateral wrist/forearm, bilateral knee, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The right hip, low back, sinus disorder (including allergies/rhinitis), and asthma conditions are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's tuberculosis is being remanded for further evaluation due to a possible increase in severity.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis (inactive) is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection and etiology of respiratory disorders.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death because the evidence did not indicate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The Board also found that alleged on-service exposure to toxins or chemicals did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's appeals for tuberculosis and abscesses have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and has continued since.,Her dental disorder is treatable, but there were no diagnosed conditions during service that resulted in bone loss of the maxilla or mandible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date due to issues related to service connection for residuals of latent tuberculosis, scars from a pericardial window surgery, and pericarditis. The claims are intertwined with a claim regarding clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2006 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for latent tuberculosis and remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including pneumonia, COPD, and asthma.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected residuals from pulmonary tuberculosis did not contribute to or cause his death. The evidence showed that his heart condition was due to congestive heart failure and pleural effusions, which were unrelated to his service-connected tuberculosis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a mass of the neck, tuberculosis, and vision disability have been dismissed.,Service connection has not been granted for hypertension, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, diabetes, or neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's latent tuberculosis (TB) is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and a skin disability, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tuberculosis, left hand disability, right leg nerve damage, right knee disability, colon cancer, liver lesions, and kidney lesions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of active tuberculosis during or after service, and did not find that any other condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, specifically pleurisy. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.