Tuberculosis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. The claims of service connection for tuberculosis, pulmonary disorder other than tuberculosis, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and left knee disability are remanded.

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 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 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 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 in Vietnam.

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 service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tuberculosis chorioretinitis with left paracentral scotoma, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 25, 2003. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and readjudication of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tuberculosis, high blood pressure associated with tuberculosis, left inguinal hernia associated with tuberculosis, and right inguinal hernia associated with tuberculosis. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The hearing testimony provided during his April 2019 Board hearing is considered new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board granted a 100% disability rating for TB from August 31, 2006 to April 22, 2007 and from April 27, 2011 to May 17, 2015. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for TB.

The Board denied service connection for tuberculosis, astigmatism and hypermetropia, and peripheral retinal degeneration due to lack of a current disability diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and private treatment records. The issues of an increased evaluation for his service-connected left epididymo-orchitis with left hydrocele and entitlement to a TDIU are also being remanded.