Asbestos Use in the Military
Use of asbestos in the military
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Asbestos is a mineral widely used by the military in the 1930s and 1970s. It was used for everything from bases to vehicles, shipyards and ships. Asbestos is useful in many ways because it gives strength to the material, is resistant to fire and heat, is inexpensive and abundant.
The Navy began stockpiling asbestos in the years leading up to World War II. This mineral was particularly useful in shipbuilding, and the military needed enough to build a new ship before the inevitable entry into the war.
On ships, asbestos has been incorporated into many components.
Insulation around the pipe
Boiler and engine room insulation
Pumps, valves, and gaskets
Flooring, fireproof panel
Fireproof protective equipment.
It was not until the 1970s that the health risks associated with asbestos became well known and their use was eventually regulated and restricted.
Veterans asbestos and mesothelioma
Inhaling small fibers of asbestos can cause many health problems, including mesothelioma. Fiber can stay in tissues in the body, damage cells, and lead to the development of cancer.
Veterans who avoid or use asbestos directly are at greatest risk of developing mesothelioma decades after the end of service. This includes Navy veterans working in boiler rooms and veterans who repaired or built ships at shipyards. Seafarers who worked under the deck before around 1990 are at risk of later asbestos disease.
Mesothelioma occurs after inhaling asbestos fibers and damaging internal tissues. Not all people exposed in this way develop cancer, but it is not immediately apparent in those who do.
Cancer begins most often in the pleural tissue around the lungs and can eventually spread to more distant areas of the body. Mesothelioma is invasive and is almost always terminal.
Asbestos illness recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs
Mesothelioma is most often associated with asbestos exposure, but it is not the only associated disease. There are several conditions and symptoms that recognize that VA is at least partially caused by asbestos:
Two types of mesothelioma, pleura and peritoneum
lung cancer
Cancer of the bronchi, larynx, or pharynx
Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
Asbestosis
Fibrosis of the lungs.
Pleural plaque
Pleural effusion
Many of these conditions, except mesothelioma and asbestosis, have many potential factors. However, they are also associated with asbestos exposure, so VA recognizes them in asbestos claims.
The claiming veteran must, with the help of a doctor, claim that asbestos is as likely to be the cause as any other factor.
Types of compensation available to veterans
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Medical coverage is of paramount importance to veterans diagnosed with asbestos conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs hospital system has mesothelioma specialists, especially at facilities in Boston and Los Angeles. The types of compensation available are:
Disability Compensation: VA considers the cancer caused by asbestos to be completely disabled. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are usually covered by full disability compensation. For non-cancerous disorders such as asbestosis and pleural plaque, tests are performed to assess the extent of the disorder and determine compensation.
Special Monthly Compensation: This is typically awarded to veterans who are at home or bedridden. They are physically handicapped to the extent that they cannot take care of themselves and need help. Family members who care for these veterans can also claim special monthly compensation.
Dependency and Compensation Compensation (DIC): The surviving spouse of a veteran who died of a service-related disorder such as mesothelioma can claim monthly compensation for DIC. The spouse is eligible for DIC regardless of whether the veteran has already received disability compensation. If the veterans were not, the spouse must claim that the veterans die in service and that asbestos-related illnesses occur.
Amount of disability compensation awarded
The amount of disability payments that veterans can receive from VA depends on the level of disability. For example, a lung function test can be done to determine the rate of disability. The lowest is 10%, with compensation of only a few hundred dollars a month.
How to write a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs
To apply for benefits, you need to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs and fill out the appropriate form. Here are some tips to help you simplify the process and get better and faster results.
We are ready to provide updated medical records and a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos disease to your claim.
Also, hiring a doctor or specialist who has already determined that your illness is likely caused by asbestos exposure enhances your case.
Make your service records available to prove that your exposure happened while you were in the army.
The time it takes to get a response to a complaint depends on a variety of factors, but is usually 6 to 8 months. If your claim is rejected, you have up to a year to appeal the decision.
For example, if you file a proceeding against the asbestos material manufacturer you worked with during the service at the same time, it will not affect your disability claim.
As a U.S. Veteran or Active Duty Officer, you are entitled to compensation if your army causes disability or serious illness. By claiming through the Department of Veterans Affairs for mesothelioma or other asbestos disease, you have access to the right to fair compensation. Start right away, get the answer, and start profiting as soon as possible.
