Tuberculosis DBQ explained

What this DBQ covers

The tuberculosis questionnaire distinguishes disease involving the lungs from non-pulmonary disease elsewhere in the body. It records medical history, relevant findings, testing and functional effects. The dates and status of the disease are important parts of that history. A screening result, an earlier diagnosis and current active disease should not be described as though they are interchangeable.

The important sections, explained

A positive test and active tuberculosis

The diagnosis section distinguishes active or latent tuberculosis from a positive screening test without active disease. Those findings should not be treated as interchangeable. Bring the report and the clinician's interpretation, along with any treatment record. If treatment was preventive or addressed latent infection, identify that accurately. The examiner determines the diagnosis and status; a remembered positive skin or blood test alone does not describe the entire tuberculosis history.

Read the official form: page 1

Lung disease and other affected sites

Pulmonary tuberculosis involves the lungs, while the separate non-pulmonary section concerns other sites. Both sections ask about residual effects. If the illness has resolved, describe any documented continuing findings and the treatment course. Relevant imaging, specialist notes and procedure records can clarify the affected site. Do not assume that current breathing difficulty or another symptom is a tuberculosis residual without the clinical assessment needed to support that relationship.

Read the official form: page 2

How to prepare useful information

Bring records explaining the diagnosis, treatment course and subsequent follow-up. If problems remain after treatment, identify the affected body system and the clinician's findings. Explain changes in activity and symptoms in practical terms, while leaving interpretation of tests and disease status to the medical evaluator. Records from different stages can help make clear what is historical and what is current.

Records to gather

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

• Diagnostic, specialist and treatment records identifying the site and course of tuberculosis.
• Dated imaging or other relevant testing with follow-up interpretation.
• Clinical records of lasting effects and descriptions of current activity limitations.

A detail that is easy to miss

Check whether records say active disease, latent infection or screening positivity. Preserve those terms rather than replacing them with the general phrase had TB. If there were several treatment periods, keep their dates and purposes separate. Include follow-up that documents resolution or residual findings so an old result is not mistaken for the current disease status.

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 2
3. SECTION III - PULMONARY TBPage 2
4. SECTION IV - NON-PULMONARY TBPage 3
5. SECTION V - OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS AND/OR SYMPTOMSPage 4
6. SECTION VI - DIAGNOSTIC TESTINGPage 5
7. SECTION VII - FUNCTIONAL IMPACTPage 6
8. SECTION VIII - REMARKSPage 7
9. SECTION IX - 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

Does a screening result tell the clinician everything needed?

No. The result needs medical context, including diagnosis, disease status, treatment and the site involved. Provide the related records rather than interpreting the screening test yourself. The questionnaire separates pulmonary and non-pulmonary findings and allows the clinician to document the relevant history.

Should I bring a treatment-completion note?

Yes, it can help explain the course and what your clinician concluded after treatment. Pair it with relevant diagnostic and follow-up records. The examiner can then distinguish the original result, reason for treatment and current status rather than relying on a positive test from an earlier period.

Can this form cover tuberculosis outside the lungs?

Yes. It includes a separate non-pulmonary section. The provider records the affected site and relevant findings or residuals. Supporting specialist and treatment records help explain that history without assuming every tuberculosis diagnosis involved the lungs.