Mesothelioma Navy Veterans UPD
Military veterans make up 30% of the mesothelioma claims filed each year. The U.S. Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch. Navy veterans developed mesothelioma cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos products in ships, shipyards and on military bases.
mesothelioma navy veterans
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Asbestos exposure occurred among naval personnel because the Navy used asbestos throughout ships and shipyards for its fireproofing ability and resistance to salt corrosion. All Navy veterans were at risk of exposure because asbestos products were so widely used on vessels and in shipyards.
U.S. Merchant Marines were civilian mariners who faced similar asbestos exposure to naval veterans on U.S. Liberty ships. Merchant mariners who served outside of World War II do not qualify for VA benefits, but they may be eligible to file other legal claims for asbestos exposure.
In 2019, the International Journal of Radiation Biology published a study of mesothelioma rates in about 114,000 veterans involved in nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 1962. Researchers found radiation exposure was not a significant risk factor for mesothelioma. Rather, the study confirmed the highest rates of mesothelioma occurred among enlisted Navy personnel who had close contact with asbestos products.
Spouses and children of veterans have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases through secondary asbestos exposure. It primarily occurs through exposure to asbestos-contaminated clothing when doing laundry.
No branch of the U.S. armed forces endured more asbestos exposure than Navy veterans. As a result, mesothelioma is more frequently diagnosed among Navy veterans than other branches of the military. Nearly 30% of mesothelioma lawsuits are filed by those exposed through military and shipyard construction.
Navy veterans who served in the past 50 years remain at risk of developing mesothelioma because it takes decades for asbestos to cause damage that leads to cancer. Military veterans, which include Navy veterans, make up 30% of the mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year. Navy veterans are most at risk because the Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch.
This program is helpful to veterans who were exposed to asbestos in the Navy or another branch of the armed forces because it provides health monitoring services that could catch mesothelioma early when it is more treatable. It also documents service-related asbestos exposure, which is an important part of getting VA benefits approved when a veteran develops an asbestos-related disease.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes several asbestos-related diseases as potentially service connected, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Navy veterans who get sick because of military asbestos exposure are eligible for free health care, disability compensation and other VA benefits for family members.
Veterans with asbestos-related diseases may receive specialized health care at VA treatment centers throughout the country. This care is covered by the VA, and veterans with mesothelioma qualify for disability compensation to help with costs not covered through VA health care, such as travel and transportation costs. A diagnosis of service-connected lung cancer or mesothelioma grants veterans 100% disability, which returns the maximum level of monthly disability compensation.
The VA also offers benefits to survivors who lost a loved one to mesothelioma. Surviving spouses of veterans who die from a service-connected disease are eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.
When you file a VA claim over asbestos exposure, you should support it with medical records and a written asbestos exposure summary. Eligible veterans must be honorably discharged to qualify. Talk to an accredited VA claims agent who can help you gather the documentation needed to file a fully developed claim, which is usually processed twice as fast as a traditional VA claim.
In addition to VA claims, veterans may file other types of legal claims to receive compensation for mesothelioma including personal injury lawsuits and trust fund claims. Mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust funds provide compensation to families facing asbestos-related diseases.
When veterans file lawsuits, they are not suing the military or U.S. government. They file claims against private companies that sold asbestos products to the Navy. If you lost a loved one to mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are resolved through settlements before they reach a jury trial. The average mesothelioma settlement payout is $1 million to $2 million. Navy veterans and their families may pursue a settlement to cover treatment expenses and other costs and to supplement income.
The best step veterans can take to improve their prognosis is to undergo treatment for mesothelioma. Treatments that can extend survival, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, are available through the VA.
Veterans bear a heavy burden of asbestos-related cancer, so the VA health care system has partnered with some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the nation to offer excellent mesothelioma cancer care. The top VA treatment centers for mesothelioma are located in Houston, Miami, Los Angeles and Boston.
The VA has mesothelioma specialists that offer cutting edge treatments throughout the country to veterans coping with this cancer. These doctors specialize in mesothelioma cancer care and have extensive expertise in managing treatment plans to help patients live longer.
If you believe you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military, speak with your primary care physician about getting screened by a mesothelioma doctor. In many cases, veterans are eligible for VA asbestos disability benefits to cover the cost of medical bills and other expenses.
Navy veterans with mesothelioma are eligible for monthly benefits and VA health care. Available benefits for Navy veterans also include survivor benefits, specialized health care, trust funds and access to other legal claims.
Veterans who served in the U.S. Navy may have been exposed to asbestos at higher rates than those who served in other military branches. As a result, Navy veterans are at a greater risk of mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
After working in an environment surrounded by asbestos-containing materials, Navy veterans came home with asbestos fibers attached to their skin, clothing, or hair. These fibers could then be released into their home and inhaled by other people, putting them at risk of mesothelioma.
Eric Hall, a veteran and VA-accredited attorney, notes why U.S. Navy veterans could be at risk of mesothelioma and how those affected can get VA benefits. Call us today at (866) 608-8933 to learn more. View Transcript.
Although mesothelioma has a poor prognosis (health outlook), Navy veterans may be able to extend their life expectancy with treatments. Many mesothelioma treatments and top doctors are available for Navy veterans through the VA Health Care System.
Dr. Lebenthal is a highly experienced oncologist (cancer doctor) specializing in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Dr. Lebenthal is a veteran of the Israeli army and leads the mesothelioma program at the Boston VA.
Dr. Cameron is a world-renowned oncological surgeon known for his development of the pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery. Dr. Cameron leads the mesothelioma program at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
Attorneys can help U.S. Navy veterans with mesothelioma get VA benefits and compensation from makers of asbestos-based products. No legal action will be taken against the U.S. Navy or government.
If the company that manufactured the asbestos-containing product has declared bankruptcy and can no longer be sued, Mesothelioma Navy veterans may also qualify to file claims for asbestos trust fund compensation.
Attorney Chris Guinn is a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Since he joined the firm in 2004, Chris has dedicated his practice to representing mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease victims and has recovered millions of dollars on their behalf.
Members of the United States Navy served on ships they thought were safe. Unfortunately, these ships were made using tons of asbestos-containing construction materials. Asbestos may cause veterans to develop mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, 20-50 years after they were first exposed.
The sacrifices made by those who served in the U.S. Navy go beyond counting. But the unfortunate reality remains: These sacrifices were even bigger than many thought. Today, thousands of veterans continue to fight for their lives from a threat they could not prepare for: mesothelioma.
Although every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces used asbestos, the U.S. Navy is believed to be the military branch with the highest rate of asbestos use and, as a result, the highest risk of developing an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.
Because of this, U.S. Navy veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to financial compensation from legal claims and veterans benefits. Get a free consultation today to learn your legal options.
Many companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products attempted to avoid making payments to victims of asbestos exposure by declaring bankruptcy instead. As a result, the courts ordered these companies to set aside money in bankruptcy trust funds for current and future victims of mesothelioma. 041b061a72