Infectious Diseases DBQ explained

What this DBQ covers

This questionnaire records an infectious disease's diagnosis, history, current status, symptoms and residuals. Residuals are problems that remain after the original illness. VA provides separate forms for certain conditions, including HIV-related illness and tuberculosis, so this general questionnaire should be matched to the actual diagnosis. A past exposure or a remembered illness is not the same as a medically established infection.

The important sections, explained

Active disease and residual effects

The status section separates active infection from an inactive or resolved disease and asks about symptoms and residuals. A residual is a lasting effect after the original illness. A past positive test may help establish history, but it does not automatically mean the infection is active now. Bring treatment and follow-up records so the examiner can describe the current stage and any documented remaining effects rather than relying only on the first diagnosis.

Read the official form: page 3

Keep each infection's history identifiable

The form allows more than one infectious disease to be described. For each, identify the diagnosis, approximate onset, treatment and outcome supported by the records. If a symptom continues, explain when it began and how it affects activities. The clinician determines whether it is attributable to that infection or needs another evaluation. Several past infections should not be merged into one continuous illness simply because some symptoms overlapped.

Read the official form: page 3

How to prepare useful information

Bring diagnostic evidence and the treatment timeline. Explain whether symptoms resolved, recurred or continued after treatment, and identify any lasting condition already diagnosed by a clinician. Test results should be considered with the medical notes because their meaning can depend on timing and context. The clinician should assess whether a current problem is related to the earlier infection rather than infer that relationship from timing alone.

Records to gather

Start with records you already have. Bring the relevant information to your clinician and explain any gaps or uncertain dates.

• Diagnostic laboratory or specialist records identifying the infectious disease.
• Treatment dates and records showing resolution, recurrence or continuing care.
• Medical findings and practical descriptions of any lasting effects after the infection.

A detail that is easy to miss

Check the type of test and the clinician's interpretation rather than treating every positive result as evidence of current illness. Some reports may concern past exposure or follow-up. If more than one infection is documented, attach the correct date and treatment to each. Keep a suspected diagnosis distinct from one established by the treating or examining clinician.

Find your way around the official form

These section headings come from the linked VA PDF. Each link opens the page where the section begins. Read the form's own instructions for the full questions and any required attachments.

1. SECTION I - DIAGNOSISPage 1
2. SECTION II - MEDICAL HISTORYPage 3
3. SECTION III - STATUS, SYMPTOMS, AND RESIDUALSPage 3
4. SECTION IV - OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, SCARS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS AND/OR SYMPTOMSPage 4
5. SECTION V - DIAGNOSTIC TESTINGPage 5
6. SECTION VI - FUNCTIONAL IMPACTPage 6
7. SECTION VII - REMARKSPage 7
8. SECTION VIII - EXAMINER'S CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATUREPage 7

Who completes the clinical sections?

The healthcare provider completes the clinical assessment, identifies the records reviewed, and signs the questionnaire. You can gather records and describe symptoms and daily limitations. Measurements, diagnoses, and clinical conclusions belong to the examiner.

Check the official form's instructions with your provider before the appointment, including any examination or testing requirements. VA does not pay or reimburse the costs of having a private DBQ completed or submitted.

A completed DBQ can help document the medical condition. Whether it also answers a particular service-connection question depends on its content and the other evidence. VA may verify the form or request another examination.

Common questions

Can this DBQ document problems that remain after an infection?

Yes, it includes disease status, symptoms and residuals. The clinician should identify the actual remaining problems and assess their relationship to the infection. A symptom that appeared later is relevant history, but the timing alone does not establish a medical connection.

Does this form cover every infectious condition?

VA provides separate questionnaires for several conditions, including HIV-related illness and tuberculosis. This broader form has its own scope. Confirm the diagnosis with your provider and use the appropriate questionnaire rather than assuming every infection belongs on the same form.

What if I have had more than one diagnosed infection?

Keep a separate short history for each diagnosis, including treatment dates and present status. Match test reports to the correct illness. The form allows multiple diseases to be described, but the clinician still needs to identify which symptoms or residuals are attributable to each one.