Tuberculosis decisions — 2002

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not satisfactorily determined and denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a positive tuberculosis tine test as there is no competent medical evidence of active tuberculosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for pulmonary tuberculosis and service connection for COPD are denied. The veteran does not have active pulmonary tuberculosis, and there is no evidence of an etiological relationship between his COPD and either service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis was denied prior to October 7, 1996. From that date forward, the claim is granted with a combined disability rating of 70 percent due to service-connected conditions including inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and non-pulmonary tuberculosis (back condition). The veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking cardiorespiratory arrest or pulmonary tuberculosis to the veteran's service. The new evidence submitted since the January 1997 decision is not considered material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for residuals of malaria and service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, finding that there was no current evidence of active malaria or any related complications.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for cholecystitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, a goiter, gastric ulcer, or rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence is insufficient to establish these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his death to his period of service.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis, which was inactive at the time of his death.

The Board found no evidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in service or within the presumptive period post-service, and concluded that it was not related to service.

The veteran's tuberculosis of the spine, with residual favorable ankylosis of the dorsal and lumbar spine, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the current severity of his disability.

The veteran's claim of an increased evaluation for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with bilateral pleural calcifications is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the application to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for lung disability, including tuberculosis. The evidence submitted was not considered new and material.