Citation Nr: 18140224
Decision Date: 10/02/18	Archive Date: 10/02/18

DOCKET NO. 15-05 661
DATE:	October 2, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as residuals of pneumonia, is granted.
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Veteran’s respiratory disability is related to his service.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for a respiratory disability are met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1111, 1131, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Veteran had active service from March 1953 to February 1955. The Veteran died in April 2016; the appellant is his surviving spouse. The appellant was formally substituted in place of the Veteran in January 2017. 
The Veteran and the appellant have contended that the Veteran’s in-service treatment for pneumonia caused his post-service respiratory conditions. Although the Veteran’s service treatment records are unavailable, he contended that he was hospitalized for pneumonia for one month while stationed in Germany under freezing conditions. He has stated that ever since service, he suffered from continuing coughing and other respiratory symptoms.
In July 2018, the Board obtained a specialist opinion on the matter. The physician first explained that bronchiectasis was a known residual of severe pneumonia. The physician further stated that severe bronchiectasis was also known to cause COPD. The physician essentially concluded that if the Veteran did suffer from severe pneumonia in service, and there was a showing of severe bronchiectasis on CT scan in the record, then it was likely that the Veteran’s COPD was a complication of these events.
Upon further review of the record, the Board notes that a January 2011 CT scan demonstrates the presence of ‘marked’ bronchiectasis. Thus, it is evident that the Veteran suffered from the type of bronchiectasis contemplated by the July 2018 physician when rendering the above opinion. Accordingly, when providing the Veteran with the benefit of the doubt that he did suffer from pneumonia that was severe in service, it is reasonable to conclude that his bronchiectasis and COPD, and generally his post-service respiratory ailments, are residual disabilities stemming from service. 
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Accordingly, service connection for a respiratory disability to include bronchiectasis and COPD is warranted.
 
M.E. Larkin
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. Erdheim, Counsel