The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides various benefits and support to members of the military, veterans, and their families. Many members of the military were exposed to asbestos, and it’s possible that this exposure caused mesothelioma. If you or a family member served in the military and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is vital to understand your options for proving military asbestos exposure, and VA benefits may be available to you.
Legal Counsel for Military Asbestos Exposure and VA Benefits
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can help you determine your eligibility to claim VA benefits if you developed mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure during your time in military service. We have successfully helped thousands of clients nationwide recover compensation through various legal channels, including VA health benefit claims for illnesses acquired during military service.
You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis. This is a terminal cancer with a relatively short average five-year life expectancy, so you need to find an attorney right away who can accurately determine the full extent of your legal options. The claim-filing process for VA benefits may seem straightforward at first, but many veterans encounter various unexpected complications with their claims.
Our team can help you gather your military service records, medical records, and other documentation that you will need to submit to the VA for your benefits claim. Time is a crucial factor in these cases as mesothelioma is a terminal diagnosis, and symptoms can escalate rapidly without medical intervention. You can trust the team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC to help you secure the compensation you need for your medical expenses and inability to work after diagnosis.
Asbestos Exposure in Military Service
Many members of the military were exposed to asbestos, especially in the Navy and Coast Guard. For many years throughout the US, asbestos was a widely used material for its fireproofing and insulating properties. Many military bases were built with asbestos insulation, and shipyards were among the highest-risk sites for asbestos exposure due to the various components used in these buildings and in shipbuilding operations.
Some of the most commonly cited sources of asbestos exposure for members of the military have included shipyards, Navy and Coast Guard vessel engine rooms, and older military buildings on bases worldwide. It can be difficult to trace the most likely source of asbestos exposure, but a skilled attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can assist with this.
When any asbestos-containing material is damaged or disturbed, asbestos particles can be released into the surrounding area. These particles are thin, sharp, and very light, able to remain suspended in the air in interior spaces for long periods. When these particles enter the body and become embedded in tissues, they can gradually lead to mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is not a very common form of cancer, and the health risks of asbestos are widely understood today. Asbestos use has declined dramatically in recent years and is now very tightly regulated. However, about 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US because of asbestos exposure that happened many years ago. This can make it very difficult to accurately determine the most likely source of the exposure that caused the cancer.
Pleural mesothelioma forms in the lungs after asbestos particles are inhaled and is the most common form of this cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma can form in the abdomen if asbestos particles are ingested. This disease usually has a very long latency period, often taking decades to show noticeable symptoms. However, repeated exposures and/or genetic predisposition to cancer can increase the rate at which it spreads.
In many cases, the first signs of mesothelioma do not appear until the disease has already reached an advanced stage. Early symptoms could mimic less serious illnesses, further delaying treatment. Once someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment will focus on managing symptoms, maintaining quality of life, and slowing the spread of the cancer as much as possible.
Ultimately, mesothelioma is an incurable and terminal cancer. Even if it is detected very early and the patient has access to the highest level medical care, they will eventually need to transition to palliative care as the disease reaches later stages. The average five-year survival rate of localized mesothelioma is just 23%, and it drops to 11% when the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
Claiming VA Benefits for Military Asbestos Exposure
The VA manages multiple benefits programs for military veterans and their families. Any military veteran who is diagnosed with a disease directly related to their military service can qualify for health benefits that cover all medical treatment related to their illness, and they may also receive monthly disability benefits if they are unable to work.
Your mesothelioma attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can help you file your VA health benefits claim, gathering any evidence you need to prove your diagnosis is directly linked to your time in military service. We can guide you through the filing process and make sure that you receive a fair determination of benefits.
It’s also possible for you to have other avenues of recovery available. For example, if a specific private company manufactured the asbestos-containing materials that caused your mesothelioma while you were in the military, you may be eligible to file a claim to their mesothelioma injury trust if the company has since gone out of business, or a personal injury case against them if they are still solvent.
In the event you have lost a family member to mesothelioma that developed because of asbestos exposure during their time in military service, a skilled mesothelioma attorney can help you file a claim for VA death benefits. It’s also possible to have grounds for a wrongful death claim if a specific party is directly responsible for the asbestos exposure.
Ultimately, military veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma could have multiple options for claiming compensation, but these processes are not always easy to navigate. Government benefits programs, even those for veterans, often present roadblocks and frustrating administrative red tape that can be difficult to overcome without an attorney’s help.
You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma. Kelley Ferraro, LLC provides legal representation in mesothelioma cases nationwide, and we are confident we can help you prove liability if necessary and recover as much compensation as possible through VA benefits programs or other legal avenues. Reach out to our firm today to learn more about our legal services for military veteran mesothelioma cases.
FAQs
Q: Which Military Veterans Faced the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure During Service?
A: The military veterans who faced the highest risk of asbestos exposure during service primarily included Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served aboard ships, in shipyards, and in engine rooms. These locations contained high amounts of asbestos, primarily in insulation, pipe coverings, and fireproofing materials.
Q: Can a Veteran Qualify for VA Benefits for Mesothelioma?
A: Yes, a veteran can qualify for VA benefits for mesothelioma if they were exposed to asbestos during their time in military service. Your mesothelioma attorney can help you prove the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused your mesothelioma and guide you through the benefit claim-filing process. It’s possible to receive monthly disability compensation as well as full medical expense coverage if you qualify.
Q: Can I Receive VA Death Benefits if My Military Spouse Died From Mesothelioma?
A: Yes, it is possible to receive VA death benefits if your military spouse died from mesothelioma that they developed from asbestos exposure during their time in service. The VA pays Dependent and Indemnity Compensation, a Survivors Pension, and compensation for funeral and burial services to qualifying family members of military veterans who have died from mesothelioma.
Q: Can I File an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim or Lawsuit While Receiving VA Benefits?
A: Yes, it is possible to file an asbestos trust fund claim or lawsuit while receiving VA benefits. If you pursue any legal recourse against a private company, this will not interfere with your ability to claim VA benefits for a medical condition you developed during your military service. Consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC to determine the full extent of your legal options following your diagnosis.
Q: Why Should I Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
A: You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer because you may have multiple options for recovering compensation, but you need an attorney’s help to navigate your case successfully. The right attorney can not only assist you with claiming VA benefits for mesothelioma; they can also help you build a comprehensive personal injury case if a specific private party is directly responsible for your asbestos exposure.
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have nearly 30 years of experience representing thousands of clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide, including military veterans. If you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma and you believe this resulted from asbestos exposure during military service, we can help you determine your legal options. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney and learn how we can assist you.
