Tuberculosis (Residuals) — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
Start a claim for Tuberculosis (Residuals)— free & guided
Step-by-step builder: add this and any related conditions, see the research, and get a package ready for a free VSO. No account needed to start.
The DBQ for Tuberculosis (Residuals)
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960I-6 (Tuberculosis) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Tuberculosis (Residuals) — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Tuberculosis (Residuals), based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Respiratory
General rating schedule for respiratoryconditions. Your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
FEV-1 of 71 to 80 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent
FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent
FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent
FEV-1 less than 40 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or cor pulmonale
Will adding Tuberculosis (Residuals) raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Tuberculosis (Residuals) claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
EClinicalMedicine, 2023 · PMID 37205923
Finding: Meta-analysis of 61 studies (41,014 participants) found that even after successful TB treatment, 59.1% of patients had abnormal spirometry versus 5.4% of controls, with 17.8% showing obstruction, 21.3% restriction, and 12.7% a mixed pattern; lung cancer incidence was also elevated (incidence rate ratio 4.0, 95% CI 2.1-7.6).
Why it helps: Supports the core premise of a TB residuals claim: that lasting respiratory impairment commonly persists after a TB infection is cured, documenting measurable, ratable lung-function deficits in a majority of treated patients.
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2017 · PMID 28380187
Finding: Among 214 patients tested at least one year after completing TB treatment, 47.7% had pulmonary impairment, with obstructive disease most common (34.6%) and 28.0% showing reduced FEV1 below the lower limit of normal; prior culture-positive and recurrent TB raised the risk.
Why it helps: Supports an association between a history of treated pulmonary TB and persistent, objectively measured lung-function loss, reinforcing that residual disability is a recognized long-term consequence rather than a fully resolved condition.
- Burden, clinical features, and outcomes of post-tuberculosis chronic obstructive lung diseasesSecondary
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 2024 · nexus to tuberculosis (residuals) · PMID 37902135
Finding: Review reporting that roughly 60% of patients with post-TB lung disease have spirometric abnormalities and airflow obstruction is documented in 18-22%, driven by bronchial wall destruction and aberrant healing; the disability-adjusted life-years attributed to post-TB lung disease represent about 50% of the total TB-related DALY burden.
Why it helps: Supports claiming COPD/airflow-obstruction and chronic obstructive lung disease as secondary to a service-connected TB infection, showing a recognized causal pathway from healed TB to chronic obstructive impairment.
Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, 2024 · nexus to tuberculosis (residuals) · PMID 38225822
Finding: Review characterizing post-TB lung disease as a spectrum of persistent sequelae including tracheobronchial stenosis, bronchiectasis, fibrosis, cavitation with associated aspergillosis, chronic pleural disease, hemoptysis, and TB-associated COPD or restrictive lung function requiring lifelong management.
Why it helps: Supports claiming a range of downstream respiratory conditions (bronchiectasis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, pleural disease, restrictive or obstructive impairment) as secondary to a service-connected TB infection.
Pulmonology, 2025 · PMID 37349198
Finding: Meta-analysis of cohort studies (total population 5,884) found that silicosis and silica-dust exposure were associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis, with a pooled risk ratio of 1.35 (95% CI 1.18-1.53).
Why it helps: Supports an exposure-based nexus for service members with occupational silica/dust exposure (e.g., engineering, demolition, abrasive-blasting, sandy-environment duty), linking that exposure to elevated TB risk.
Scientific Reports, 2017 · nexus to diabetes mellitus · PMID 28439071
Finding: Meta-analysis of 13 studies (9,289 individuals with TB) found diabetes mellitus was independently associated with multidrug-resistant TB (pooled adjusted OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.32-2.22), with a stronger association in longitudinal studies (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.51-3.02).
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-nexus theory that service-connected diabetes increases susceptibility to and severity of TB, helping connect a TB diagnosis to an already service-connected metabolic condition.
Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2018 · nexus to HIV / immunosuppression · PMID 29109555
Finding: Review establishing that HIV-1 infection substantially increases the risk of active tuberculosis through depletion of T cells and impaired macrophage control of M. tuberculosis, and that TB co-infection is the leading cause of death in people with HIV.
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-nexus theory linking immunosuppressed states (HIV, and by extension other immunocompromising service-connected conditions or therapies) to elevated risk of developing active TB.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Tuberculosis (Residuals)
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Tuberculosis (Residuals). A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Share this rating breakdown
A free, source-cited infographic of how the VA rates Tuberculosis (Residuals). Save it and post it, or send it to someone who needs it. No fee, no catch.
Square format, ready for an Instagram or Facebook post.
Open / save the image →Sharing the page link also shows a wide preview card automatically.
Filing a Tuberculosis (Residuals)claim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Tuberculosis (Residuals) should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Tuberculosis (Residuals) personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Tuberculosis (Residuals) VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Tuberculosis (Residuals) evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Tuberculosis (Residuals).
Tuberculosis (Residuals) Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.