With a chronic bronchitis diagnosis alone, you are not eligible for compensation. But given the fact that the rate of misdiagnosis is high, and the cancer risk is high with asbestos exposure, we strongly recommend you get a second and even third opinion outside the VA. If you are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, you become eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation.
About 12 million people get diagnosed with COPD in the U.S. every year
A statistically significant number of cases of chronic bronchitis have been reported in people exposed to asbestos, according to the results of several scientific studies. In a study conducted in Sweden, which included 316,729 construction workers, the death rate due to COPD was higher in workers exposed to asbestos by around two and a half times when compared to those who had not been exposed to the toxic substance. The Environmental Health Journal published a study in the year 2011, which reported that COPD due to occupational exposure to toxic fumes resulted in about 375,000 deaths worldwide in a year.
Although the connection between asbestos and COPD is not clearly defined yet, it has been shown that prolonged asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing COPD or worsens the disease. Studies suggest that people with COPD are more likely to die after being exposed to airborne asbestos at work.
Common signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis and asbestos exposure
In individuals with chronic bronchitis, a persistent cough develops that is usually accompanied by mucus discharge. Other common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Tightness in the chest
- Fatigue
- Unintended weight loss