Tuberculosis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's latent tuberculosis was granted service connection during active duty. The issue of service connection for bilateral degenerative myopia is remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability other than tuberculosis, costochondritis, and muscle pain have been denied. The claim for secondary service connection for costochondritis is granted, while the claims for secondary service connection for muscle pain are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tuberculosis residuals, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's condition is related to presumed herbicide agent exposure during active duty service. As a result, the claim is now granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from non-VA providers and a VA medical opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's claim for refractive error is denied as it is a congenital disorder not subject to service connection. Service connection for tuberculosis exposure is also denied due to lack of current disability. Other claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, carpal tunnel syndrome, tuberculosis, bilateral pes planus, and hyperlipidemia are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of tuberculosis, chronic lumbar spine disorder, residuals of bilateral trench foot, and a chronic headache disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or continuity of symptoms. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of medical evidence supporting his assertions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 13, 2020 for the Veteran's service-connected lung disability and denied his request for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(q).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no current evidence of the condition.,Service connection for tuberculosis is also denied, with no current evidence of the condition during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and to clarify his respiratory condition. The issues on appeal are whether he can establish service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a respiratory disability (likely tuberculosis), as well as an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CLL, diabetes mellitus type 2, and tuberculosis of the liver have been granted. The tuberculosis claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, pain and numbness of the upper extremities, kidney failure, and heart disability (claimed as open-heart surgery) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, back condition, gastrointestinal disorder, residuals of tuberculosis, sinusitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is rated at 100 percent, effective June 8, 2020.,Latent tuberculosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 4, 2010 for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance (SMC(l)) due to lack of evidence indicating loss of use of both feet or lower extremities prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but has remanded the issues of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Latent Tuberculosis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of tuberculosis is denied as there is no functional impact due to the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the residuals of tuberculosis, specifically addressing the Veteran's testimony and medical records indicating frequent pneumonia.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for genitourinary tuberculosis with interstitial cystitis from 100 to 40 percent was improper, and restored the original 100 percent rating. The effective date for service connection of unspecified depressive disorder with sleep-wake disorder is denied as there are no unadjudicated claims prior to December 31, 2014. SMC at the housebound rate has been granted since February 1, 2015. The Veteran's GERD and erectile dysfunction have not yet been evaluated by VA, and a TDIU rating is inextricably intertwined with these issues.