When protecting your nation against security threats, exposure to hazards and taking precautions for them is the last concern that would cross your mind. The only thing that mattered at that time was to cast an impenetrable protective shield for your people, no matter the cost. While leaving no stone unturned for this noble cause, there is a possibility that you might have encountered some danger-posing materials unknowingly. While they don’t seem to be a threat instantaneously, they certainly do have plans for your body in the years to come. One such carcinogen is the asbestos fiber that veterans commonly encounter on duty. It is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that hits the linings of our body organs. If you have worked in the US military from the mid to late twentieth century, you might have a risk of becoming the victim of this disease. Here are some points to determine if you have been in contact with asbestos and a plan of action if you or your loved one has already fallen prey to it.
Sources of Asbestos Exposure for Veterans:
Being in military services, you have to handle many pieces of equipment and weapons now and then. Due to the highly resistant properties of asbestos, it was a part of almost every product used in the military. Since the fire-proof nature of asbestos had made it the favorite item as an insulating and fire-resistant material for the ships, the naval personnel are at the highest risk of mesothelioma development. Asbestos was most commonly present in ships’ engines and boiler rooms for insulation. If you have developed mesothelioma while serving in such high-risk areas, you can look into mesothelioma navy settlements and get compensation for the damage. Other branches and occupations of the military were also replete with asbestos exposure due to their use in construction and transportation until its awareness became common.
Filing for Mesothelioma Lawsuits:
The companies producing asbestos products were supposed to inform the workers and their customers regarding its health hazards. However, that was not the case for many years, and many people, including veterans, kept on encountering it. In case of a mesothelioma diagnosis, you can file a compensation claim against the liable parties to make up for their negligence. You will have various options to choose from while filing a compensation claim. You can consult a lawyer who would translate the complexities of legal matters for you and make the right choice. A mesothelioma lawsuit can help you get a reasonable amount of compensation through a settlement or jury verdict. Settlement is deciding the compensation amount by the mutual understanding of the opposing parties. If both parties fail to do so, you can conclude the matters by a jury’s verdict.
By choosing this option, you would not be filing against the military or government but the company which produced the asbestos-related products. There are two types of mesothelioma lawsuits that you can file.
- Personal Injury Lawsuit: If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can go for a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your present havoc. The money would help cover your treatment costs, travels, and other physical and emotional distresses inflicted on you consequently.
- Wrongful Death Lawsuit: The second lawsuit is for the families of veterans who have passed away due to mesothelioma. The affected family can file a claim to compensate for the loss caused due to the death of their loved one. If your loved one passes away before a final decision on the personal injury claim, you can continue it as a wrongful death lawsuit.
Veterans Affairs Compensation Claims and Benefits:
You can file these claims with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which will provide the compensation amount depending upon the history and severity of your case. The selection of compensation claim will depend upon whether you are currently serving or have retired from the service, i.e., the pre-discharge and post-service claims, respectively. The benefits include:
- Disability Compensation: This compensation depends upon the level of disability a veteran has to face due to an in-service injury. The mesothelioma is 100% disabling, for which you can receive a reasonable amount of disability compensation It is about $3,106 for unmarried and $3,279 for married persons.
- Special Monthly Compensation: It is a monthly grant for the veterans who need a person to tend to them owing to their asbestos-related disability. The amount varies from $3,800 to $5,000 every month.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: As the name indicates, this compensation is for the spouse of deceased veterans who were mesothelioma victims. The spouse will have to file a claim if the veteran passes away.
Eligibility for Filing a Compensation Claim:
Before you consider the option of getting compensation, first ensure that you are eligible to qualify for one. Mesothelioma can take a long stretch to grow and be noticeable after asbestos exposure. It may be after many years of your retirement that the symptoms start to appear. You will have to make sure that you have encountered asbestos during your time in the military, and the mesothelioma diagnosed is the consequence of that exposure. You will need to provide a history of your job locations along with the medical evidence to prove it. Secondly, your retirement or discharge from the military should conform to the merits of honor. Involvement of dishonorable reasons for your drop out from the military would make you ineligible for claiming the benefits. If you fulfill these criteria, you are all set to have your right to financial support.
Conclusion:
Since military occupations included the usage of asbestos-related products, the risk of mesothelioma development would linger on whether you are in-service or have said your farewells. So, do not wait for the symptoms to aggravate and take the situation into your control beforehand. The awareness regarding the various facets of this disease would enable you to act faster and in the right direction. Legal matters can be confusing, especially if you do not have any prior knowledge. So, if you have worked or are working in a military department, do not underestimate the risk of asbestos exposure and enlighten yourself on how to move forward. Little steps in the right direction can take you out of danger’s way!
