Veterans with Asbestos-Related Illnesses Find Themselves in a Unique and Troubling Situation

According to a revealing statistic, more than 30 percent of Americans beset with mesothelioma (a rapacious cancer that attacks the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart) were exposed to asbestos during military service.

Out of the hundreds of occupations exposed to asbestos, veterans account for 30% of all mesothelioma cancer patients. Due to common military practices, veterans who served between 1940 and 1970 have a great risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. Additionally, Navy personnel and workers employed in shipyards from the 1930s through the 1970s hold a greater risk of developing asbestos cancers caused by asbestos exposure.

Veterans with asbestos-related illnesses find themselves in a unique and troubling situation, as they virtually have no avenue to seek compensation through the current government system. Ailing veterans are prohibited by law to seek compensation from the U.S. government through the court system. For more information on mesothelioma treatments or how you can get free assistance with filing for asbestos-related VA Benefits please see the resources as The Mesothelioma Cancer Center.