Tuberculosis decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for tuberculosis as there is no current diagnosis of active or residual tuberculosis, and the positive skin test from in-service was not shown to have caused any current disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for otitis media was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for the right shoulder disorder was reopened, but denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran’s back disorder is remanded for further development of evidence regarding in-service and post-service pain.,The Veteran’s left ankle disorder is remanded for a medical opinion addressing his reports of ankle pain following service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disorder is remanded for a medical opinion addressing the relationship between favoring his left ankle and his current right ankle disorder.,The Veteran’s tuberculosis claim requires a VA examination to determine if it may be related to in-service treatment at Fort Polk, Louisiana.,The Veteran’s skin disorder is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether his lay statements of continued symptoms since service are supported by medical evidence.,The Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed mood) is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the possibility of prior diagnoses related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 rating claim is remanded for assignment of an effective date prior to March 14, 2006.,The Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for initial ratings and effective dates.,The Veteran’s back examination will include assessment of any neuropathy symptoms related to the back.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension because he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a previous Court decision that found the TDIU claim had not been raised by the record. The Veteran is service-connected for genitourinary tuberculosis, painful scar residuals from heminephrectomy, and erectile dysfunction. The combined rating is 60 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU but raises the issue of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for consideration of the assignment of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tuberculosis has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for sensitivity to light (photophobia).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Alaska Native Medical Center and providing an addendum decision regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTB of the left upper lung was denied as there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed his active duty service.,For the period from February 19, 2013 to February [REDACTED], 2017, the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of his spouse was denied as he did not have a service-connected disability. The issue is moot since the spouse has died.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to determine the current level of impairment with regard to his service-connected residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculosis of the colon with resection.