Tuberculosis decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current low back disorder, including status post laminectomy/Post's disease (spinal tuberculosis), is related to his service. The RO must make a further attempt to obtain any missing service medical records and arrange for an examination of the veteran by a physician with appropriate expertise.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his respiratory failure due to pulmonary carcinoma or tuberculosis to military service.

The veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary tuberculosis is granted on reconsideration, as the condition was incurred during his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis was not present during service or within three years of his separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking it to any incident of active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim, finding that his current pulmonary disability was not incurred in active duty and is not due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding new and material evidence. However, it was determined that the veteran's heart disease and tuberculosis were not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the claims for service connection for heart disease as secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis, an increased rating for bilateral maxillary sinusitis, and an increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis are all dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for tuberculosis of the spine in April 1977 and did not reopen the claim in September 1980, February 1982, December 1985, or December 1989. The decision is considered final.

The veteran's service with the New Philippine Scouts is not considered active military service for purposes of receiving VA nonservice-connected burial benefits and plot or interment allowance.

The Board found no evidence of current tuberculosis or a current diagnosis related to service, and denied the veteran's claim for tuberculosis. The back disorder issue was remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to accrued benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to military service, either directly or proximately. The veteran's cause of death was due to hypovolemic shock secondary to severe dehydration from acute gastroenteritis.