Veterans’ Legal Options
Asbestos was used by the U.S. Armed Services for many years. This material possessed many useful properties, such as high resistance to heat and high tensile strength, which made it very useful in a number processes and vessels. Because of this, members of the Navy, in particular, were exposed to high amounts of asbestos on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, however, asbestos also poses very serious physical threats to humans. Those who have inhaled dense amounts of asbestos particles are much more likely to develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases than those who have never been in contact with the substance.
Asbestos began to be strictly regulated beginning in the 1970′s, and those in the military nowadays are widely shielded from the dangers of asbestos exposure. However, veterans who served before these policies were established are now showing symptoms of mesothelioma. In fact, military service men and women account for over 30% of all Americans with mesothelioma.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) was established in 1989 in order to provide veterans, their families, and their successors with benefits. This governmental group provides medical care, home loans, career location assistance, pensions, education, life insurance, and other benefits to over 74.5 million people across the nation.
Making a VA Claim
As a veteran who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have the right to file a claim to cover your medical costs, pain, and suffering. These claims are typically made against the negligent manufacturer who provided you and your employer with dangerous, asbestos-containing products. Not only that, but you can also apply for help from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. However, it can be more difficult to gain support from this group because they may not see your illness as a result of your time in the military.
The VA also places veterans making claims into categories that are based on the substance to which they have been exposed. Unfortunately, those exposed to asbestos are very low on the priority list.
