--- title: "Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section E Medical Treatment for Veterans Showing a Positive Tuberculin Reaction" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section E" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/xiii.i.3.e-medical-treatment-for-veterans-showing-a-positive-tuberculin" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000173841/M21-1-Part-XIII-Subpart-i-Chapter-3-Section-E-Medical-Treatment-for-Veterans-Showing-a-Positive-Tuberculin-Reaction" updated: "2026-09-07T14:38:09.696540Z" --- April 12, 2007 ### XIII.i.3.E.1.a. Chemotherapy Program Adopted by the Service Departments Individuals who receive tuberculin tests sometimes show a change from negative to positive without any other evidence of a tuberculosis infection. The military service departments have adopted a program of chemotherapy for personnel who had a negative tuberculin test on entrance into service, but who were found to have converted to positive during service. ### XIII.i.3.E.1.b. Policy on Chemotherapy Treatments Chemotherapy prescribed for personnel testing positive for tuberculin reaction is to be continued over a 12-month period to reduce the possibility of subsequently acquiring tuberculosis. **_ _** **Important:** A positive tuberculin reaction without any other evidence of a tuberculosis infection is _not_ a disease or disability and is _not_ a reason for discharge from service. ### XIII.i.3.E.1.c. Chemotherapy for Discharged Personnel At the request of the military service departments, Department of Veteran Affairs medical facilities provide continued chemotherapy for the remainder of the 12-month period to discharged personnel who tested positive for tuberculosis during service. After treatment, the medical facility forwards _[VA Form 10-7131, Exchange of Beneficiary Information and Request for Administrative and Adjudicative Action](), _to the regional office with the following legend: _ _ _Medical care being authorized for positive reaction to tuberculin test on basis of prima facie evidence of eligibility_. ### XIII.i.3.E.1.d. Processing VA Form 10-7131 for Discharged Personnel Testing Positive for Tuberculosis Follow the steps in the table below when you receive _[VA Form 10-7131]() _is received for discharged personnel testing positive for tuberculosis. | **Step** | **Action** 1 | Interpret _[VA Form 10-7131]() _to mean there is no disease or disability present. 2 | Associate _[VA Form 10-7131]() _with the claims folder without any control. **Notes:** * A final report of examination is submitted at the end of the 12-month treatment period. * When completing any _[VA Form 10-7131](), _subsequently received in which _Service-Connected_ is checked in Part I, do not make any reference to service connection for a positive tuberculin reaction. **Reference:** For more information on compensation claims based on a positive tuberculin reaction, see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iii, 2.A]().