Mesothelioma Veterans Assistance

Statistics reveal that a large number of veterans from the Navy and armed forces are afflicted with mesothelioma, a form of cancer arising out of exposure to the natural mineral called asbestos which was very popular in the early 1900s. Reportedly, of the 25 million living individuals who have served in the United States' armed forces, almost 30 percent have shown symptoms of being exposed to asbestos.

How do veterans get affected by mesothelioma?

Asbestos is known for its heat resistance and fireproofing qualities. As a result, it was greatly in demand for use in areas prone to heat. The military put asbestos into widespread use till the 1970s when it became public knowledge that the product had toxic side effects. The material was phased out but the harm was done.

Since the gestation period of the disease spans 20 to 50 years, the extent of the damage done by asbestos exposure is difficult to assess as new victims continue to emerge even 40 years after the ban was put in place. Symptoms of the disease often appear too late for any help other than providing palliative care to improve quality of the remaining life. Also, time may be lost in mistaken diagnosis as many of the symptoms like respiratory problems are common with other, less severe conditions. As a result, the disease festers and spreads unknown. By the time the correct mesothelioma diagnosis is made by a specialist after a battery of tests, it may not be possible to make any substantial difference to the patient’s condition.

Places where asbestos exposure may have occurred for veterans

Veterans were exposed to asbestos during service owing to its wide usage. More than 300 products with asbestos components were used by the military, and more so by the Navy from the 1930s till it was stopped in the 1970s. Numerous asbestos-containing materials comprised components of the caustic substance used mainly for insulation purposes. Engine and boiler rooms had brakes, gaskets, valves, cements, adhesives, and floor and pipe coverings with asbestos. Other areas below deck on naval vessels such as navigation rooms, sleeping quarters and mess halls used asbestos for its fire retardant properties and also had asbestos components that caused singular exposure to all Navy personnel on board.

Benefits for mesothelioma veterans

All veterans are entitled to Veterans Affairs (VA) health and disability benefits provided they are enrolled into the program at the VA office in their area. A number of Special Benefits programs are offered by VA for conditions recognized as service related disorders like Agent Orange Treatment and Registry Examination and Gulf War Illness. At present, mesothelioma is not on the approved lists of service related medical conditions. This means mesothelioma is not considered an illness arising out of military service. However, if proof can be provided that exposure to asbestos occurred during the years spent in service and resulted in this form of the disease, Disability Compensation may be awarded.

While approval is not guaranteed, if the case for mesothelioma is established, the veteran stands to gain in many ways. He will be able to select the treatment facility from numerous medical facilities across the nation. Since there is no cure available, palliative measures are adopted and the right recourse may be able to provide symptomatic relief and alleviation of related disorders. The amounts of health coverage and disability compensation awarded also vary based on different criteria.

The traditional mesothelioma treatment is a trimodal therapy that includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These are expensive and available to only a few who will benefit from them. If the disease is in its nascent stages and the physique of the patient can withstand the trauma, surgery may arrest the spread of the disease by removing the malignant portions. Chemotherapy may follow surgery to act on portions of the tumor not removed by operation. Alimta and Cisplatin have been the most widely used chemotherapy drugs owing to the beneficial results reported in a large number of cases. Radiation deals with any leftover cancer cells as a last step. Use of the trimodal therapy has been known to extend patients’ life span by as much as five years. But being an expensive line of treatment, without the availability of the necessary finances, those who can benefit from the trimodal therapy remain deprived of it.

Assisting any veterans affected by asbestos! Contact us now!

If you are a veteran suffering from an asbestos-related medical condition, there is no time to lose. Get in touch for help of any kind. Time is of an essence in this disease and you stand to gain by contacting us. We put in our best to obtain benefits for you and work on a contingency basis. We have on our side experience and expertise in filing claims and making use of available organizational resources for veterans to make the complications associated with asbestos-related illness easier. Call now!