Mesothelioma and Veterans

Veterans and Asbestos Exposure

U.S. veterans are at an especially high risk of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Every military branch relied on asbestos from the 1930s to the early 1980s because this mineral was cheap to buy and resistant to fire and heat. Asbestos-containing products could be found in military bases, buildings, equipment, planes, ships, vehicles, and other assets.

The military was unaware of this mineral’s dangers as makers of asbestos-based products withheld the facts from the government, private industries, and the general public.

Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers benefits if you developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while you served. You can also file private mesothelioma veterans claims to get financial aid from manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to learn more about what benefits you can access.

Mesothelioma Veterans Benefits

With benefits from the VA, you may be able to receive low-cost mesothelioma veterans treatments and monthly financial payments.

The following are the most common VA benefits for mesothelioma veterans:

VA Disability Compensation for Mesothelioma

Disability compensation provides former service members with money each month to cover basic living expenses and medical care costs. Veterans are assigned a disability rating (10% to 100%) and paid accordingly.

Because mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating from the VA, you may qualify for the maximum amount of compensation available. As of 2023, VA disability compensation pays out $3,823.89 monthly if you’re 100% disabled and have a spouse.

You don’t have to pay taxes on disability compensation, and it is not affected by your income level or employment history.

VA Pension

A VA pension is a monthly payment available if you served during wartime and your income falls under a set limit. VA pension pays the difference between your current income and the maximum pension rate set by Congress.

As of 2023, your net worth must be under $150,538 to receive a pension. If you are married, your spouse’s income also counts towards this net amount.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Paid in addition to regular disability benefits, SMC may be available if you have a disability that requires medical care from another person. The VA considers mesothelioma to be a total disability, meaning you may qualify for SMC.

VA Survivors Benefits

Additionally, surviving spouses and children can receive tax-exempt monthly VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and other benefits if a veteran with mesothelioma passes away.

VA Health Care for Mesothelioma Treatment

With health care offered through the VA, you can access well-accepted treatments and clinical trials that test new ones at little to no cost. The VA offers mesothelioma treatments at several hospitals throughout the country.

VA Hospitals for Mesothelioma Treatment

Three medical facilities currently offer specialized treatment options for mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Learn more about some of these VA hospitals below.

There are many more VA mesothelioma treatment centers in addition to the ones listed above.

Thanks to the MISSION Act, you may also be able to access non-VA mesothelioma doctors and treatments. In 2019, the MISSION Act expanded VA health care coverage to include approved local providers.

How to File a Mesothelioma VA Benefits Claim

To file a VA claim, you must complete documentation showing how your mesothelioma stems from military service and why you need specific benefits.

You may need the following to file a VA benefits claim:

• A doctor’s statement that notes asbestos caused you to develop your cancer (also called a NEXIS letter)
• Evidence linking military service to asbestos exposure (i.e., military job history)
• Medical records that confirm you have mesothelioma
• Proof that you weren’t dishonorably discharged (DD214)

You may not remember how, when, or where you were exposed to asbestos, but an experienced and VA-accredited attorney can help you gather this information and file your claim.

The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you access VA benefits. Request a copy of our Free Veterans Compensation Guide for more information.

Which U.S. Military Branches Used Asbestos?

All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces used asbestos until the 1980s, but some veterans had a higher risk of exposure than others. Learn how each branch of the U.S. military used asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy used the most asbestos-based products out of any military branch. As a result, U.S. Navy veterans had the highest risk of exposure.

Almost every U.S. Navy ship built between the 1930s and the late 1970s used asbestos-containing products due to a government mandate. It was believed asbestos could safely protect ships from fire and corrosion.

U.S. Navy ships were often cramped and poorly ventilated, making it almost impossible to escape asbestos exposure.

“I served in the Navy for 20 years. I always knew that there was asbestos. And when I went aboard ship, that’s when I found out that it was asbestos in the products. Nobody ever said anything about it being dangerous.”

– Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy Veteran and Mesothelioma Patient

Engine rooms and boiler rooms were particularly dangerous for asbestos exposure. Some Navy sailors worked directly with asbestos-containing products like pipes, boilers, and gaskets, putting them in even greater danger.

Navy jobs with a high risk of asbestos exposure included:

• Boiler technicians
• Enginemen
• Machinist’s mates
• Seabees

Navy sailors who worked in shipyards also had a high risk of exposure since they built and repaired ships with asbestos-based products every day. This work sent asbestos fibers into the air, and they could then easily be inhaled by shipyard workers.

Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force veterans who regularly worked on planes ran a high risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos-containing products were used to keep planes and other aircraft from catching on fire.

Asbestos parts used by the U.S. Air Force included:

• Brake pads
• Cockpit and engine insulation
• Fireproofing materials
• Gaskets
• Paint
• Sealants

Pilots, mechanics, and crew members like gunners may have been frequently exposed to asbestos. Asbestos was also extensively used in the construction of buildings on U.S. Air Force bases.

Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Army

Asbestos could be found in U.S. Army vehicle parts like gaskets, brake pads, and construction materials like insulation and paint. While anyone who spent time in these vehicles or on base may have been exposed, some U.S. Army veterans came in contact with the dangerous mineral every day.

U.S. Army jobs with a high risk of asbestos exposure included:

• Construction workers
• Firefighters
• Electricians
• Mechanics
• Pipefitters

Some U.S. Army bases still have older buildings in use that may contain asbestos construction materials even today, particularly Army barracks.

Learn more about veterans mesothelioma benefits and compensation you may qualify for in our Free Veterans Compensation Guide.

Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Coast Guard

Much like the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard heavily relied on asbestos-containing products to build its ships. Those who worked on ships or in U.S. Coast Guard shipyards had a very high risk of exposure as a result.

High-risk U.S. Coast Guard jobs included:

• Boiler technicians
• Electricians
• Insulators
• Pipefitters

These jobs put U.S. Coast Guard veterans in contact with asbestos daily, increasing their risk of mesothelioma.

Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Marine Corps

The U.S. Marine Corps worked alongside other branches of the Armed Forces but also operated on its own. Because of this, there were many ways that U.S. Marines could have come in contact with asbestos.

U.S. Marines may have been exposed to asbestos from:

• Air Force planes
• Bases and living quarters
• Navy ships
• Vehicles

U.S. Marine Corps veterans were at particularly high risk if they served tours of duty on Navy ships.

Secondhand Asbestos Exposure in Military Families

Family members who lived on military bases were at risk of secondhand asbestos exposure. For example, if a military member got asbestos dust on their clothes and returned home, the fibers could enter the air their loved ones breathed in.

Secondhand exposure may be to blame when someone who didn’t directly work with asbestos gets mesothelioma.

Modern-Day Military Asbestos Exposure

Although the military removed literal tons of asbestos from its buildings, vehicles, and ships in the 1980s, some service members may still be at risk even today.

For example, soldiers currently serving can be exposed to asbestos from building explosions in the Middle East since many structures in this area still contain asbestos.

Older U.S. military ships and bases still used today might also have asbestos-based products inside.

Asbestos Exposure Outside of U.S. Military Service

Like the U.S. military, private industries also used asbestos widely in the 20th century. Service members may have been exposed to asbestos before or after they served while working in these industries.

When it comes to asbestos exposure outside of the military, high-risk occupations include:

• Automotive workers
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Factory workers
• Firefighters
• Miners
• Plumbers
• Railroad workers
• Roofers
• Welders

Like the U.S. military, your former employer is not to blame for your asbestos exposure in most cases. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products sold their goods to major industries without revealing the health risks.

Our Free Veterans Compensation Guide has everything you need to learn your financial assistance options.

File for Mesothelioma VA Benefits and Compensation

If you are a U.S. veteran with mesothelioma, don’t wait to file for VA benefits and other types of compensation. You served your country with pride, so you deserve prompt medical care and payments if you get sick.

Outside of VA benefits, you can work with a lawyer to pursue mesothelioma veterans compensation through asbestos trust fund claims and mesothelioma lawsuits. If you choose these options, you won’t take legal action against the U.S. military or your former employers.

The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you pursue VA benefits, asbestos trust fund compensation, and legal claims right now. Call (866) 608-8933 now to let us serve you.