{"id":60,"date":"2019-03-07T15:26:30","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T21:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mesotheliomagroup.com\/?p=60"},"modified":"2019-08-13T18:28:37","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T23:28:37","slug":"veterans-rights-to-file-mesothelioma-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomagroup.com\/blog\/veterans-rights-to-file-mesothelioma-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans\u2019 Rights to File Mesothelioma Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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\"veterans<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Every year, thousands of Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.\u00a0 Because it can take many years for mesothelioma to develop, many veterans don\u2019t discover their asbestos exposure until decades after their service has ended.\u00a0 If you are one of these veterans, you have a right to file a mesothelioma claim.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to your right as a veteran to file mesothelioma claims, you also have the right to apply for benefits from the VA<\/a>.\u00a0 The benefits available to veterans with mesothelioma include help with medical care and living expenses as you battle this serious cancer.\u00a0 The benefits include a payment of about $3,000 a month (from the date a claim is filed until death) for a determination of 100% disability by the VA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Asbestos Exposure in the Military<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Like many civilian industries, the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces used materials containing asbestos for many decades, even after the dangers became well-known.\u00a0 Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that forms tiny, sharp crystals.\u00a0 These bits of asbestos dust can easily become airborne.\u00a0 People who inhaled or ingested asbestos dust may become ill with mesothelioma, often much later in life.\u00a0 The latency period, the time from exposure to asbestos until one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, can be many decades.\u00a0 Many experts say the latency period is a minimum of 20 years and can be 60 years or longer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In the 1970s, the military stopped using asbestos.\u00a0 Though some asbestos remains in older Naval vessels and military structures, those currently serving no longer have a high risk of military asbestos exposure because of preventive measures currently being used.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Service members who worked closely with materials containing asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma.\u00a0 Asbestos is useful as an insulator, so it was commonly used in boiler rooms on Navy ships.\u00a0 It was also used in brakes on military vehicles and in roofing and building materials, among other places.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here are some of the military service positions most likely to result in asbestos exposure:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n