Veterans and mesothelioma | Asbestos exposure Related illnesses

Veterans and mesothelioma |  Asbestos exposure Related illnesses

According to the Department of Veterans of the United States (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), currently there are 21.5 million people that have served to the armed forces of the United States. Hundreds of thousands, but millions of these veterans still with life, were exposed to toxic materials containing asbestos during their military service. This resulted in a fairly high rate of diseases related to asbestos among veterans.

Veterans and asbestos exposure

Much used in the military branches, the asbestos was highly used due to the heat resistance offered and its ability to fight the fire. In fact, asbestos represented both the military branches instructing to use most of the processes until it disappeared in the 1970s. As a result, veterans who served the Government of the United States between 1940 and 1970, are at high risk of contracting asbestos-related illnesses. Additionally, the Navy personnel and workers employed in shipping vessels from the 1930s until the 1970s also have a high chance of contracting these diseases related to exposure to asbestos.

Veterans with asbestos-related illnesses

Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma is very difficult since many of the symptoms presented are indicative of other conditions. The most common symptoms in the early stages are persistent cough, night sweats and fever; These symptoms are related to pneumonia or influenza. This way the cancer can spread throughout the body until doctors realize the presence of the same.

The treatment of mesothelioma for those diseases related to exposure to asbestos will vary depending on the condition. Fortunately, there are resources offered by organizations for veterans who provide assistance with the complications associated with such diseases.

Claims and other benefits for Veterans

Benefits for Veterans
Veterans can apply for benefits related to asbestos-related diseases, and resources offered by the Espanol.Asbestos.com page can assist veterans to apply for such benefits. Initially, a veteran must give sufficient evidence that his illness was directly related to exposure to asbestos and that exposure occurred during the time in which it was serving in one of the military branches.

If a veteran cannot demonstrate that its exposure to asbestos was exclusively during military service, you can search for any type of compensation from companies that used asbestos for for your treatment.

Now, the Veterans Department (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) recognized cancer mesothelioma as a condition that requires medical services. However, even when a veteran has been diagnosed with mesothelioma (close to 100 per cent of the cases are caused by asbestos exposure), Department of Veterans may not approve the claim for compensation disability for a number of reasons.

Products containing asbestos

There are more than 300 products containing asbestos and were used by the military branches, primarily by the Navy, during 1930 and 1970. Each boat marine built in the mid-1970s was supplied, on several occasions, with materials containing asbestos.

Asbestos in ships and boats

Virtually no part of the warships was asbestos-free during the years 30 and 70, making the Navy veterans and workers of such vessels are the group most at risk to develop a disease from exposure to asbestos. Materials containing asbestos were used extensively in engines, boilers and other areas below deck for safety (to serve in protection in case of fire). However, all those who were in the Navy are at risk due to the endangerment of the ore, since it was also used in the navigation, bathrooms and dining rooms.