Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease affecting many veterans who qualify for VA disability compensation. Veterans developed tuberculosis from military service—occupational exposures, close quarters living conditions, and service-related immunosuppression cause tuberculosis affecting veterans. Many veterans experience chronic respiratory symptoms, treatment side effects, and functional impairment from service-connected tuberculosis. Yet many veterans don’t realize they qualify for VA disability benefits for tuberculosis or don’t understand how the VA rates TB in veterans. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected tuberculosis, how veterans can file disability claims for TB, what disability ratings veterans with tuberculosis receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for tuberculosis disabilities.

How Veterans Develop Service-Connected Tuberculosis

Veterans develop tuberculosis through various service-related pathways:

Military Barracks Exposure: Veterans living in crowded military barracks or training facilities were exposed to tuberculosis from infected service members. Close quarters living conditions during the veteran’s military service increased TB transmission affecting veterans.

Occupational Exposures: Veterans serving in medical roles, detention facilities, or other high-risk military occupations exposed the veteran to TB from patients or detainees. Military occupational exposure to tuberculosis in veterans occurred frequently during the veteran’s service.

Service-Related Immunosuppression: Some veterans developed tuberculosis because military service compromised the veteran’s immune system. Chronic stress, poor nutrition, or other service-related factors weakened the veteran’s immunity affecting tuberculosis development in veterans.

Deployment to Endemic Areas: Veterans deployed to countries with high tuberculosis prevalence contracted TB during military service. The veteran’s deployment to areas with active TB transmission caused the veteran’s tuberculosis affecting the veteran.

Service-Related Lung Conditions: Many veterans develop TB secondary to other service-connected lung conditions. A veteran with service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease might develop TB from compromised lung function. A veteran with service-connected asthma might develop TB from respiratory vulnerability affecting the veteran. These secondary TB conditions in veterans qualify for disability benefits.

Presumptive Service Connection: Some veterans qualify for presumptive tuberculosis benefits. Veterans with certain service-connected conditions may qualify for presumptive TB. Veterans exposed to specific environments during military service might qualify for presumptive tuberculosis affecting the veteran.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis in Veterans

Veterans with tuberculosis experience various symptoms affecting the veteran:

Chronic Cough: The primary symptom of TB in veterans is a chronic cough lasting more than three weeks. The persistent cough in veterans is often productive and affects the veteran’s daily functioning.

Chest Pain: Veterans with TB frequently experience chest pain, especially when coughing or breathing deeply. The chest discomfort in the veteran is exacerbated by the veteran’s TB symptoms affecting the veteran’s occupational capacity.

Hemoptysis: Some veterans with active TB cough up blood or blood-tinged sputum. The hemoptysis in veterans indicates serious TB progression and affects the veteran’s respiratory function.

Night Sweats: TB-related night sweats in veterans disrupt the veteran’s sleep and cause significant moisture. The sweating in the veteran can be profuse and affects the veteran’s rest and daily function.

Fatigue: Veterans with tuberculosis experience severe fatigue from the infection affecting the veteran’s energy and work capacity. The exhaustion in the veteran impacts the veteran’s ability to perform occupational duties.

Weight Loss: TB causes progressive weight loss in veterans from metabolic effects. The weight loss in the veteran can be significant and affects the veteran’s overall health.

Fever: Low-grade fever is common in veterans with active tuberculosis. The fever in the veteran may be intermittent and affects the veteran’s comfort and functioning.

Service Connection for Veterans with Tuberculosis

Veterans can establish service connection for tuberculosis through several pathways:

Direct Service Connection: Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing that TB resulted from military service factors. A veteran exposed to TB in crowded military quarters during the veteran’s military service can establish service connection for the veteran’s tuberculosis.

Secondary Service Connection: Many veterans establish service connection for TB as a secondary condition to lung disease, PTSD, or other service-connected conditions. Veterans show how their primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s TB vulnerability affecting the veteran.

Presumptive Service Connection: Some veterans qualify for presumptive tuberculosis benefits based on military service locations or exposures. Veterans deployed to endemic areas may have presumptive TB. Veterans with certain service-connected conditions might qualify for presumptive tuberculosis affecting the veteran.

Disability Ratings for Veterans with Tuberculosis

The VA rates tuberculosis in veterans based on severity, activity status, and functional impact. Tuberculosis ratings in veterans range from 0% to 100%, depending on disease progression and treatment response.

0-10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have inactive or minimally active TB with minimal functional impairment. The veteran may have TB that is controlled with medication and doesn’t substantially affect the veteran’s respiratory function or work capacity.

20-30% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving these ratings have TB causing moderate respiratory symptoms affecting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran experiences limitations in physical activity and the veteran’s TB causes ongoing respiratory impairment affecting the veteran.

40-60% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with moderate to severe active TB receive these ratings. The veteran experiences significant respiratory limitation and the veteran’s TB substantially impacts the veteran’s occupational capacity.

70% or Higher Rating for Veterans: Veterans with severe, progressive TB or TB with serious complications may receive 70% or higher ratings. The veteran experiences severe respiratory impairment and the veteran’s TB severely limits daily functioning and occupational capacity.

Filing for Tuberculosis Disability Benefits as a Veteran

To file for VA disability benefits for tuberculosis, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating tuberculosis or TB as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for tuberculosis should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s TB diagnosis and confirmation testing
• Tuberculin skin test results or IGRA (interferon-gamma release assay) results from the veteran’s testing
• Chest X-ray or CT scan results showing TB involvement in the veteran’s lungs
• Sputum smear microscopy or culture results if the veteran had active TB
• Documentation of TB treatment the veteran received during or after military service
• Records of ongoing TB treatment and medications the veteran takes for tuberculosis
• A personal statement from the veteran describing how the veteran’s TB affects the veteran’s daily life and work
• If filing for secondary TB, medical evidence showing how the veteran’s primary service-connected condition caused the veteran’s TB
• Information about the veteran’s military service and potential TB exposures during the veteran’s service

Veterans should clearly explain how the veteran believes the veteran’s TB is service-connected.

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Tuberculosis

When veterans file for tuberculosis disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Review the veteran’s medical records and TB history
• Ask the veteran detailed questions about symptom frequency and severity affecting the veteran
• Inquire about the veteran’s current respiratory function and limitations
• Ask about medications the veteran takes for tuberculosis and treatment effectiveness
• Assess how the veteran’s TB impacts occupational capacity and daily functioning
• Document the veteran’s functional limitations caused by the veteran’s tuberculosis
• Request current chest imaging if not recently obtained to assess the veteran’s TB status

Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by describing specifically how the veteran’s TB symptoms affect the veteran’s work and daily life, discussing treatment history and response, and being prepared to discuss occupational limitations from the veteran’s TB.

Secondary Conditions in Veterans with Tuberculosis

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their tuberculosis:

Respiratory Fibrosis: Chronic TB causes lung scarring and fibrosis in the veteran. Secondary pulmonary fibrosis in veterans from TB can receive separate consideration and may warrant higher ratings.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Veterans with TB may develop or worsen COPD from lung damage. Secondary COPD in the veteran from TB complications can receive separate disability ratings.

Sleep Disturbances: TB-related symptoms like night sweats and cough disrupt the veteran’s sleep. Secondary sleep disorders in veterans from TB symptoms can receive separate ratings.

Depression and Anxiety: Veterans with chronic TB may develop depression and anxiety from managing a serious infectious disease. Secondary mental health conditions in veterans from chronic TB qualify for separate ratings.

These secondary conditions increase the veteran’s combined disability rating.

Combining Tuberculosis with Other Veteran Disabilities

Many veterans have tuberculosis combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 40% rating for TB and a 30% rating for a lung disease, plus other disabilities affecting the veteran.

All conditions in veterans combine using the VA’s combined rating formula to determine the veteran’s total disability rating. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to understand exactly how your TB rating combines with your other service-connected conditions as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans their total combined rating and monthly compensation.

Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening Tuberculosis

Veterans whose TB worsens over time should file for rating increases. Some veterans develop progressive TB requiring more intensive treatment or causing serious pulmonary complications affecting the veteran.

Veterans should file for rating increases when:

• The veteran’s TB becomes active after period of inactivity
• The veteran requires hospitalization or more intensive TB treatment
• The veteran develops pulmonary fibrosis or other TB complications
• The veteran’s respiratory limitations have increased significantly
• The veteran’s TB increasingly impacts occupational capacity

When filing for a rating increase, veterans should submit updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened TB condition and current functional impact.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to see how a TB rating increase would affect your combined rating and total compensation as a veteran.

Understanding Your Tuberculosis Disability Compensation

A veteran’s TB disability compensation depends on the veteran’s tuberculosis rating and any other service-connected conditions the veteran has. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to determine:

• Your combined rating including TB and other disabilities
• Your monthly compensation based on your disability ratings
• How a TB rating increase would affect your total compensation
• How TB combines with other service-connected conditions affecting the veteran

The calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when TB combines with other disabilities.

Tuberculosis Treatment and Management for Veterans

Veterans with service-connected TB should establish regular care with VA pulmonologists or infectious disease specialists knowledgeable about TB management. The VA offers veterans:

• Pulmonology evaluation and TB diagnosis confirmation
• Tuberculosis treatment with standard multi-drug therapy
• Regular monitoring of TB treatment response and medication tolerance
• Chest imaging to assess TB progression and healing
• Respiratory function testing to measure the veteran’s lung capacity
• Management of TB-related complications affecting the veteran

Veterans should maintain regular VA care both for treatment and to create medical documentation supporting disability ratings and potential rating increase claims.

Occupational Considerations for Veterans with Tuberculosis

The VA recognizes that TB affects occupational capacity in veterans. Veterans whose severe TB or TB complications prevent them from performing their previous occupation (especially jobs requiring good respiratory function) may need to change careers affecting the veteran.

Veterans with TB limiting occupational capacity should consider filing for Individual Unemployability (IU).

Appealing Denied Tuberculosis Claims for Veterans

If the VA denies a veteran’s TB claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional medical evidence documenting the veteran’s TB diagnosis
• Obtaining statements from pulmonologists confirming the veteran’s TB and functional impact
• Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands TB claims
• Providing detailed descriptions of the veteran’s TB symptoms and limitations
• Filing for secondary TB if the veteran’s primary service-connected condition was approved
• Filing additional rating increase claims as the veteran’s TB progresses

Don’t accept a denied TB claim without appeal—many veterans successfully obtain tuberculosis disability benefits.

Conclusion

Tuberculosis is a serious service-connected disability affecting many veterans, significantly impacting the veteran’s respiratory function, occupational capacity, and quality of life. Veterans who developed TB from military service, occupational exposures, or service-related conditions deserve disability compensation. If you’re a veteran with tuberculosis, file a disability claim documenting your TB diagnosis and how the veteran’s condition affects your functioning. Document your symptoms, treatment history, and any TB-related complications. File for secondary TB if another service-connected condition contributed to the veteran’s tuberculosis. Maintain regular VA pulmonary care and document your symptoms and functional limitations. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to understand your combined rating and total compensation when TB combines with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with service-connected tuberculosis, you deserve disability benefits recognizing your condition and compensating you for the functional impact on your veteran life.