SERVING

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Mesothelioma

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U.S. Navy Veterans Urged to Call

 

The Mesothelioma Victims Center is urging US Navy Veterans who served on a Cold War era US Navy ship to have annual chest x-rays performed in addition to telling their primary care physician about any exposure to asbestos which might have resulted from working in close proximity to the engine room, ammunition magazines, machine shop, or fuel storage areas.

If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, the Center is urging the Veteran and/or their family to call them at 866-714-6466 to ensure they have the nation's most experienced lawyers for

compensation.  

  

  

  

  

   

   

   

  

   

  

   

Due to the complexity of the system, filing a claim to receive benefits from the VA is notoriously challenging.  Eligibility for benefits for the VA's medical program is defined by a classification system that categorizes veterans based upon a series of "priorities", which can be perplexing to define and appear to be subjectively limiting. For example, veterans exposed to toxic herbicides such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are classified as a "priority 6" (on a scale from 1-8, 1 being the highest priority) but veterans exposed to asbestos during service that consequently developed mesothelioma are not assigned any priority whatsoever.

    

The Next Step

                 

Despite having served their county, veterans coping with asbestos-related disease are limited in seeking compensation and benefits through the government and VA system. But with the assistance of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, veterans can effectively seek compensation for their medical costs and personal losses by filing a claim against the asbestos company that produced the toxic materials which led to their illness.                                     

                                                   

For more information about veterans' rights and filing a claim, please give us a call at 800-615-2270 or fill out the form on the right to receive a comprehensive information packet on all issues surrounding asbestos exposure and resulting diseases. Widely used by every U.S. military branch, and especially by the Navy, asbestos products were heavily applied and highly regarded for their heat resistance and fireproofing properties.

  

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

  

  

   

   

Due to widespread usage, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of veterans were exposed to toxic asbestos-containing materials during military service. As a result, more than 30 percent of Americans beset with mesothelioma (an asbestos cancer that attacks the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart) were exposed to asbestos during military service. Though the Navy has chosen not to assemble statistics in relation to how many naval veterans have suffered from asbestos-related diseases, other resources of statistical data indicate 26 percent of mesothelioma patients are Navy veterans and shipyard workers. In addition, naval veterans also account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer and 13 percent of severe respiratory diseases.

                                  

                          

Mesothelioma Guide Podcast By Retired LCDR Carl Jewett

Abestos On Military Installations

        

Millions of U.S. veterans were exposed to asbestos in many areas on military installations due to the widespread use of the material in construction and equipment throughout most of the 20th century (especially before the 1980s). Here are some common places on military bases and related facilities where veterans may have encountered asbestos:

    

Buildings & Infrastructure

1.  Barracks and housing units

  • Insulation in walls, ceilings, and attics
  • Asbestos floor tiles and ceiling tiles

    

2.  Boiler rooms and mechanical rooms

  • Pipe insulation
  • Boilers and heating systems
  • Gaskets and valves

    

3.  Mess halls and kitchens

  • Vinyl flooring with asbestos backing
  • Heat-resistant gloves or pads
  • Insulated stoves and ovens

4.  Maintenance facilities and workshops

  • Brake and clutch linings in vehicles
  • Welding blankets, protective clothing
  • Asbestos used in equipment insulation

    

5.  Administrative and medical buildings

  • Roofing materials and floor tiles
  • HVAC duct insulation

    

Naval Installations and Shipyards

   

Asbestos was heavily used in shipbuilding and ship repair, including:

  • Engine rooms
  • Bulkheads and pipe insulation
  • Fireproofing materials
  • Pumps, turbines, and boilers

   

Navy veterans and shipyard workers have among the highest rates of asbestos exposure due to these environments.

     

Construction and Renovation Sites

  

Veterans working in:

  • Carpentry
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Demolition

  

were especially vulnerable during renovations or removal of older asbestos-laden materials.

    

Airfields and Hangars

   

  • Aircraft brake systems
  • Insulated wiring and fireproof materials
  • Maintenance hangars with asbestos insulation

   

Other Notable Areas On Military Installations

Ammo storage areas (magazines):

  • Often had fireproofing that contained asbestos

Firefighting training areas:

  • Used asbestos-laced materials and gear
  • Motor pools and vehicle maintenance shops: Brakes, clutches, gaskets, and insulation

 

Veterans were commonly exposed to asbestos at military installations through infrastructure, mechanical systems, vehicles, ships, aircraft, and personal protective gear. The risk was highest in maintenance, construction, engineering, and shipyard roles, but exposure could occur almost anywhere asbestos-containing materials were present, especially during renovation or repair work.