Was Your Veteran Disability Claim For Bronchitis Met With Denial?
Veterans are entitled to disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if they become sick or are injured while serving in the military. A veteran is also entitled to benefits if their military service made an existing condition worse. Bronchitis is an illness that qualifies for VA disability benefits. Read on to understand recovery of VA disability benefits for bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis is a serious respiratory and physical condition that can cause difficulty breathing, a painful cough, and tightness of the chest. Bronchitis occurs when the windpipe lining is irritated, causing a buildup of mucus. Bronchitis requires the lungs to work harder, causing them to deteriorate over time. The symptoms of bronchitis can greatly reduce a veteran’s quality of life and limit their ability to work or participate in activities they enjoy.
If the VA has denied your veteran disability claim for bronchitis, you will need to follow the VA process to appeal the denial. An experienced VA disability lawyer will be an important partner as you appeal a denial of your claim.
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How Does The VA Rate Bronchitis?
All injuries and illnesses are assigned a rating by the VA. This rating is based on the severity of the condition and determines the amount of disability you will receive. VA ratings are expressed as a percentage which correlates to the amount the disability decreases your overall health and ability to function.
To establish a rating for bronchitis, a medical professional will evaluate your lung function based on the following metrics:
- Spirometry, which measures forced vital capacity (the amount of air you can exhale after inhalation) and forced expiratory volume in one second (the amount of air blown out in the first second of an exhalation)
- Lung volumes
- Diffusion capacity of the lung
These measurements determine how well you can breathe and how effectively your lungs deliver oxygen throughout the body. You will then be assigned a rating based on your results compared to normal values for your age, height, and weight. A bronchitis rating will be 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100%.
Common Causes Of Service-Related Bronchitis
To qualify for VA disability for bronchitis, the illness must be related to your service. Bronchitis is most commonly caused when veterans breathe in airborne toxins, including:
- Smoke
- Asbestos debris
- Poison gas
- Diesel exhaust
- Sand
- Cigarette smoke
Your lawyer will work with you and your medical providers to establish the likely cause of your bronchitis. Click here to view the latest 2022 VA disability rates.
How Is Service Connection Established For Bronchitis?
It is not enough to have served in the military and suffer from bronchitis. To qualify for VA disability, you must establish a connection, or nexus, between your service and bronchitis. To establish a direct service connection, you must demonstrate that you have been diagnosed with bronchitis, have evidence of an event during your service that caused the illness, and medical evidence linking your bronchitis to that service event.
In some instances, veterans are able to claim presumptive service connection, but this only applies to specifically designated chronic conditions. Chronic bronchitis is not eligible for presumptive service connection. Eligible respiratory diseases include tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, and coccidioidomycosis.
Veterans at particular risk for service-related bronchitis include:
- Anyone who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War era because the sand is fine and easily inhaled
- Anyone who served in Iraq and Afghanistan where the U.S. military used burn pits to dispose of waste
Work with a lawyer who understands the requirements for establishing a service connection. This is critical to securing the disability benefits you deserve.
Possible Long-Term Impacts Of Bronchitis
When bronchitis doesn’t resolve within a week or two, it is considered chronic. Chronic bronchitis presents long-term concerns such as:
- Frequent and severe lung infections like pneumonia
- Swollen feet
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Heart disease or heart failure
- Pneumothorax
There is no cure for advanced chronic bronchitis. Treatments include bronchodilator medications, steroids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, lung volume reduction surgery, and pulmonary rehabilitation including special breathing techniques and exercise.
You deserve VA disability benefits if your chronic bronchitis was caused by your service. Contact an experienced VA disability lawyer to assess your case and ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your bronchitis is due to military service, you have the right to pursue a claim for disability benefits.
Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Unlike regular bronchitis, chronic bronchitis causes symptoms for at least three months a year for multiple years in a row.
The VA rating for bronchitis depends on severity and impact on your life. Service-related bronchitis can result in a rating from 10% to 100%.
Contact A VA Disability Lawyer Today
A Veteran Disability Lawyer can assist you throughout the complex claim appeals process if your service-connected bronchitis claim was denied. Once a lawyer is involved, they can quickly determine what needs to be done to prove entitlement to service connection.
If your VA disability claim for bronchitis was denied, contact the VA Accredited Attorneys at VetLaw right away to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
