Mesothelioma and Navy Veterans

From the early-1930s to the mid-1970s, there was no way to avoid asbestos exposure on a United States Naval ship or in a U.S. Naval shipyard.  The U.S. Navy, like all branches of the U.S. military, valued asbestos for its ability to resist heat and protect personnel from fire.  Of the approximately 25 million living veterans of the United States Armed Forces, a substantial number were exposed to asbestos routinely, and many of these served about U.S. Naval vessels.

Alarmingly, nearly one-third of all mesothelioma victims are veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

If you served in any branch of the U.S. Military between World War II and the end of the Vietnam War, you are at an increased risk of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.  Navy veterans who served between the early-1930s and the end of the 1970s are at an especially high risk of mesothelioma.  Virtually no part of a Naval ship during this period was free from asbestos.

At LawyerShop.com, we have undying respect and gratitude for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.  If you were exposed to asbestos during your time in the military, or if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we urge you to contact a reputable mesothelioma attorney for further information about how you can obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.

Veteran Affairs (VA) Benefits

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have the right to apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits.  In order to receive these benefits, however, you must be able to demonstrate that your asbestos exposure occurred exclusively during your military service.  The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reserves the right to reject a claim if the asbestos exposure cannot be limited to the applicant’s military service.

If you have been denied VA benefits after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may need to secure the services of an attorney to ensure the preservation of your rights.

Asbestos on Naval Vessels

The U.S. Navy mandated the use of asbestos on its ships and in its shipyards for decades before finally phasing the carcinogenic mineral out in the mid-1970s.  Of course, the hazards of asbestos were not fully understood during this time, and its use was considered beneficial to the safety of the sailors and the ships.  As a result, asbestos was used not only in the engine and boiler rooms, where the threat of fire was particularly high, but also in mess halls, sleeping quarters, and virtually all other rooms on a ship.  Asbestos was also widely used in floors, ceilings, pipes, and many of the ship’s mechanical parts.

Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney

If you are a U.S. Veteran and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you are entitled to compensation for the losses and expenses created by your illness.  Contact a compassionate mesothelioma attorney today for further information about your rights as both a veteran and a mesothelioma victim.