VA Disability Rating for Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active (DC 6730)

Rating levels

• 100% — You qualify for 100% while chronic pulmonary tuberculosis is active. The 100% rating continues for the entire active phase of the disease. Once the disease becomes inactive, the VA requests a mandatory examination and rates the lasting lung damage (residuals) under DC 6731.
• Note — When your tuberculosis becomes inactive, the rating no longer comes from DC 6730. The VA must request an examination as soon as it is notified, and the lasting lung damage (residuals) is then rated under DC 6731 based on the findings: as interstitial lung disease, as restrictive lung disease, or, when airway obstruction is the main residual, as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600). Rib removal from a thoracoplasty is rated under DC 5297. Any change in the rating follows the notice rules of 38 CFR § 3.105(e). The graduated schedule of 100%, 50% and 30% over 11 years applies only to veterans who were entitled to compensation for tuberculosis on August 19, 1968 (DCs 6721 to 6724).
• Note — For a non-service-connected pension (not compensation), active pulmonary tuberculosis counts as permanently and totally disabling in any of five situations: (a) it comes with active tuberculosis outside the respiratory system; (b) the symptoms are severe or there is extensive cavity formation in the lung; (c) it is a reactivated case; (d) the lesions have advanced between examinations or while under treatment; or (e) after six months in hospital the lesions have not receded and there is no other sign of material improvement, or after 12 months in hospital the diagnosis is still "active". Material improvement means the symptoms have lessened or gone and X-rays show the lesion is stable or shrinking.