Naval workers and veterans in America’s shipyards for many years were exposed to toxic substances like asbestos, sometimes on a daily basis. Toxic VA asbestos exposure was common and is known to lead to severe health problems including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Navy veterans and shipyard workers were many times more likely to develop asbestos-related cancers and illness due to the exposure of asbestos materials and the nature of the work in poorly ventilated areas like ship holds, engine rooms and boiler rooms.
The Navy used many fire-resistant and durable asbestos products that included insulation in the following areas of a ship:
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated VA asbestos exposure attorney and Navy veterans mesothelioma lawyer representing plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of toxic tort and Navy veteran asbestos cancer claims.
America’s veterans have been placed in compromising situations for much of the last century. But beyond the field of combat, servicemen and women have a right to expect some level of comfort and safety. Unfortunately, even away from the battlefield, veterans in the Navy and other military arms were surrounded by toxic materials.
Veterans have a right to file a toxic exposure lawsuit and file for VA disability for several reasons, and after falling ill with a number of conditions. Toxins and chemicals used in the Navy can vary, though can include the following:
The Navy had a very high demand for asbestos products for the fire-resisting properties alone. But poor ventilation in boats and vessels endangered Navy veterans and civilian workers alike. Chronic or acute exposure to asbestos may cause diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Asbestosis and mesothelioma can take decades to develop.
Almost all Navy veterans who served from the 1930s until the 1980s were potentially exposed to asbestos materials, many that were deteriorating and worn, posing a significant threat. Only in 1975 did the Navy discontinue the use of asbestos products in ships, but asbestos remained for many years after. Types of Naval ships containing asbestos products included:
A recent study has indicated that Navy veterans and other shipbuilders are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer. Any workers who spent time in boiler rooms, engine rooms, or worked as welders, renovators and pipefitters were at a significant cancer risk.
The following disability compensation benefits are available to Veterans:
Disability Compensation – a monthly monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled by an injury or disease that was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
Automobile Allowance – financial assistance provided to help eligible severely disabled Servicemembers and Veterans purchase or adapt an automobile to accommodate their disabilities
Clothing Allowance – annual stipend(s) provided to disabled Veterans who have unique clothing needs as a result of a service-connected disability or injury.
Specially Adapted Housing/ Special Home Adaptation Grants – provides monetary benefits to adapt or obtain suitable housing for eligible severely disabled Veterans
Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI) – provides life insurance coverage to Veterans who have been given a VA rating for a new service-connected disability in the last two years. Totally disabled Veterans are eligible for free insurance premiums and have the opportunity to purchase additional insurance
Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) – provides mortgage life insurance protection to disabled Veterans who have been approved for a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) – provides educational and training services to Veterans with service-connected illnesses and injuries to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment
Education Assistance – provides education benefits to Veterans to assist with obtaining a degree or with pursuing other eligible education and training
Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) – provides assistance to survivors or dependents of Veterans to obtain a degree
Disability compensation is a monthly benefit paid to Veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries or diseases that were incurred in or aggravated during active duty or active duty for training. A disability can apply
to physical conditions, such as a chronic knee
condition, as well as a mental health conditions,
such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you were on inactive duty for training, the
disability must have resulted from injury, heart
attack, or stroke. Your discharge from service must
have been under other than dishonorable conditions.
Compensation varies depending on the degree of
your disability.
If you have dependents, an additional allowance
may be added if your combined disability is rated
30% or greater. Your compensation may be offset
if you receive military retirement pay, disability
severance pay, or separation incentive payments.
VA presumes that some disabilities are due to
military service. You may be eligible to receive
service-connected disability benefits if you have
a qualifying disability associated with certain
conditions of service, such as:
» Former Prisoners of War
» Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange
» Gulf War Veterans with undiagnosed illnesses
and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.
A service-connected disability is related to an injury or disease that developed during or was aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training. VA also pays disability compensation for disabilities resulting from injury, heart attack, or stroke that occurred during
inactive duty training.
VA disability benefits depend on your level of disability and stats of dependents. You can calculate what you think you may deserve at the VA Web site: https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
You can be eligible for VA benefits for as long as your service-related injury or disability is assigned to a compensable rating by the VA.
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