Mesothelioma and Veterans
Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave FosterThis page has been fact checked by an experienced mesothelioma Patient Advocate. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.
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Veterans of the United States military receive recognition and are admired for their service and courage. These hard-working Americans made great sacrifices to serve their country.
Unfortunately, some of these brave men and women who made important sacrifices for others now spend their final days battling the illnesses triggered by years of exposure to asbestos. These include the devastating cancer known as mesothelioma.
- 30% of Mesothelioma Victims are Veterans
- Veterans Exposed to Asbestos in all Branches of the Military
- What is Secondary and Continued Exposure to Asbestos
- Ship and Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
- Asbestos-Related Diseases
- What are some available Veterans’ Benefits for Mesothelioma
- Disability Compensation
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
- Clinical Trials for Veterans
- VA Health Care
- Are there any Veterans Facilities Specializing in Mesothelioma Treatment?
- What’s happening to Raise Awareness Among Veterans?
- Where Can I Get Additional Help?
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30%
of mesothelioma victims are veterans
Veterans suffer from mesothelioma at higher rates than most other demographic groups. Nearly a third of mesothelioma cases diagnosed are in military veterans.[1] This is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen, and it is aggressive and deadly.
Since mesothelioma spreads rapidly and because it takes decades to develop symptoms, most veterans get a late stage diagnoses. They have little to no hope of remission. Therapies are used largely to extend a patient’s life and to make him or her more comfortable. Curing mesothelioma is extremely rare.[2]
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Asbestos Trusts
Asbestos DangersVeterans Exposed to Asbestos in All Branches of the Military
The military relied heavily on asbestos in many settings, buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and especially ships. The low cost and availability, as well as its ability to fireproof and resist heat, made asbestos an ideal material for many uses.
The Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, and the Coast Guard all utilized asbestos in nearly every form of transportation, in all electrical wiring, in housing and insulation and many other applications through the middle of the 1970s.
Those who served during those years were at risk of being exposed to asbestos. Making matters worse, many service members left the military but continued working in similar occupations as civilians, exposing them to asbestos again.
Asbestos use was discontinued by the military in the mid-1970s after the health risks became widely known. Since mesothelioma has such a long latency period, many veterans who served during the Vietnam War are only just beginning to show symptoms of the disease.
Certain Types of Military Work Put Veterans at the Greatest Risk of Asbestos exposure:[3]
- Working with insulation
- Demolition
- Working in shipyards and on ships
- Mining
- Pipefitting
- Roofing and flooring installation
- Vehicle repair and maintenance
- Building military equipment
What Is Secondary and Continued Exposure to Asbestos?
One of the many great tragedies of military asbestos use is the harm caused to the families of veterans. Anyone living with someone exposed to asbestos on the job is also exposed.
Known as secondary exposure, many family members of veterans suffered because of the asbestos fibers that came home with them after a day on the job.[4]
The fibers get into homes by clinging to clothing and hair. Anyone in the home may be exposed. This has especially been a risk for military members stationed on bases with their families in on-base housing.
Another issue with asbestos in the military is that many retired veterans continued to work in the same field as they did while in active service. For many veterans the exposure to asbestos continued in their second careers, like plumbing, construction, or boiler work.
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Ship and Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
Nearly every part of each ship built and used in the U.S. Navy had some asbestos-containing material, from the ceilings to the fireproof gear worn during fire drills.
Not only were the engine and boiler rooms insulated with the material, but so were the areas between decks, in the navigation rooms, and even in sleeping quarters and mess areas.
Veterans tell stories of asbestos dust raining down on them – even the paint on the walls contained asbestos.
Navy veterans have the highest rates of asbestos-related illnesses of all military veterans. The highest-risk areas of battleships include the pump rooms, engine rooms, and boiler rooms. Sailors who worked in these areas had the most exposure to asbestos. This is because of the content of asbestos, but also because ventilation in the below-decks areas was poor and workers breathed in a lot of asbestos fibers as a result.[5]
Asbestos-Related Diseases
The years of exposure to asbestos that many military men and women endured can potentially cause several health conditions:
- Mesothelioma, an aggressive type of cancer that attacks the linings of the lungs, is nearly always fatal.
- Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that causes progressive tissue scarring.
- Other types of cancer can also be triggered by asbestos exposure, including lung cancer, larynx or pharynx cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and urogenital cancer.
Some of these illnesses can be cured, many can only be treated. For instance, the scarring from asbestosis causes chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath. The damage cannot be reversed or fixed. It can be managed and symptoms treated.[6]
What Are Some Available Veterans’ Benefits for Mesothelioma?
Living with mesothelioma is costly, but there are benefits available to veterans with a diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases. The VA has recognized mesothelioma as a service-connected condition. Those impacted are entitled to VA Health Care, Disability Compensation, and Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.[7]
The availability of VA Health Care is determined by several factors:
- The veteran’s income level
- Whether the condition is service-related
- The severity of symptoms or disability
- Number of dependents
If mesothelioma disability status is determined, a veteran can be treated at any VA facility. Some are staffed by noted mesothelioma specialists.
Among the renowned mesothelioma specialists serving veterans are Abraham Lebenthal, M.D. of the Boston VA Healthcare System and Brigham & Women’s Hospital; and Robert Cameron, M.D. of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and the UCLA Medical Center.
Disability Compensation
Disability compensation is a monthly benefit the VA offers to those with proven service-related disabilities. The amount a veteran is entitled to receive varies based upon diagnosis and degree of disability. Mesothelioma has been determined to be 100% disabling, which means that it usually entitles a veteran to the maximum monthly benefit.
The maximum monthly benefit to which veterans with mesothelioma are entitled to begin at nearly $3,000 and can be increased if there are dependents in the family, such as minor children.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
This monthly benefit is provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who have died from a service-connected condition.
Benefits for DIC are $1,195 per month. The surviving spouse may need to provide evidence of asbestos exposure, the illness, and how that contributed to the death.
Clinical Trials for Veterans
In addition to receiving medical treatment, veterans may apply to participate in clinical trials testing experimental treatments. These are funded by drug companies, mesothelioma treatment centers, and the National Institutes of Health.
Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 for more information about the latest clinical trials and eligibility requirements. Space is very limited so contact us as soon as possible.
VA Health Care
Any military members struggling with asbestos-related illnesses are eligible for health care services through the VA.[8] Every case is different, and there are several factors used to determine eligibility. These include income level, and there are different scales used to adjust incomes to determine co-pays.
Special monthly compensation, SMC, may be available for veterans so disabled by asbestos illnesses that they need specialized care. This is for veterans who cannot live independently, are bedridden, or cannot leave the house. The typical amounts of SMC awarded to veterans disabled because of asbestos exposure are between $250 and $650 per month.
Are There Any Veterans Facilities Specializing in Mesothelioma Treatment?
Some of the most advanced mesothelioma treatments being offered now through the VA are at facilities in Boston and Los Angeles.[9] For those veterans that can travel to either of these locations, the level of service and health care offered is the best.
The VA does not always alert veterans to these options, though. This is why it is so important that individuals are aware of the health care options available to them.
What Is Happening to Raise Awareness Among Veterans?
Asbestos is an area of serious concern for anyone who served or is serving in the U.S. military. It is essential that all veterans and active service members are aware of asbestos and its risks.
Awareness of symptoms and early signs is crucial. Mesothelioma’s early symptoms resemble more benign illnesses (such as the flu or common cold), so they are often ignored until a diagnosis comes too late for effective treatments. Symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Chest pains
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Fever
Veterans must make their physicians aware of their history of asbestos exposure to give themselves the best chance for early diagnosis.
Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave Foster
Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.