Veterans Outreach Accomplishments in 2024
Helping Veterans with Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Our Veterans Outreach team at The Mesothelioma Center had another great year helping veterans with asbestos-related diseases and working with Veterans Service Officers across the country.
In 2024, we assisted over 200 veterans and their families who were affected by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. We also sponsored the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers Conference in Denver and trained more than 500 VSOs in eight states.
We also have big goals for 2025. Our mission is to ensure every veteran with an asbestos-related illness gets the support they need as soon as possible. No veteran should feel alone in this fight.
Committed to Helping Veterans
Mesothelioma is often talked about because of asbestos legal claims available to civilians. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes other asbestos-related diseases that may qualify veterans for healthcare and disability benefits.
Many veterans we assist across the nation have already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, and the VA has denied their claims. In most cases, they didn’t have the right medical evidence linking their illness to asbestos exposure, or they assumed the VA would know how they were exposed to asbestos during their service. We help veterans understand what documents they need and how to talk to their doctors to gather the correct proof.
We work closely with them to identify when and where they came into contact with asbestos, whether during military service or civilian life. Then, we help write an asbestos exposure summary describing their asbestos exposure history and the lack of protective equipment available at the time.
Working With NACVSO
For the seventh year in 2024, we sponsored the NACVSO Conference. We provided VSOs with information about asbestos diseases and discussed disability claims related to asbestos exposure.
These connections have helped us stay in touch with VSOs through a quarterly email newsletter that provides updates and resources for handling asbestos-related claims. We also partnered with VSOs who organize training sessions for their states, allowing us to schedule multiple training events last year.
Expanding VSO Training
One of our biggest successes in 2024 was expanding our VSO training program on asbestos-related VA claims. Last year marked our fifth full year of training, and we reached an additional 500 VSOs in six states and two virtual classes. Since we started, we have trained more than 3,500 VSOs in 24 states.
This spring, I will train VSOs in California, Michigan and several counties in Texas. In July 2025, I will present at the NACVSO Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, offering a 45-minute CEU credit session for all attending VSOs.
Topics Covered in VSO Training Sessions
- Asbestos-related diseases recognized by the VA
- How to connect a diagnosis to military service
- How to write strong asbestos exposure summaries
- Tests needed to prove asbestos exposure during service
Many VSOs we trained had helped veterans whose asbestos-related claims were denied. Proving asbestos exposure in the military is challenging because nearly all veterans don’t have symptoms until long after their service. There is no mention of asbestos symptoms and diseases in their active-duty medical records, so they must connect their current diagnosis to service decades earlier.
Some VSOs didn’t fully understand the medical tests needed for a proper diagnosis. Others didn’t provide enough details about when and where a veteran was exposed to asbestos, making it harder to prove military exposure was greater than any civilian exposure.
It was rewarding to hear how they found the training helpful. Many VSOs have since contacted us for help with veteran cases they’re working on. We also appreciate the feedback from VSOs after a claim we assisted with is approved, and the veteran and their family receive the benefits they earned.
Veterans Outreach Goals for 2025
In 2025, we want to be a key resource for VSOs, ensuring that veterans in every community get the best advice and support for their VA claims.
Plans for 2025
- Build more relationships with VSOs across the country
- Connect veterans with VSOs who understand asbestos claims
- Meet more VSOs at the NACVSO Conference in July
- Offer more training events in different states
- Provide useful updates through our emails and website
Our ultimate goal is to give every veteran the best chance of getting VA benefits. We’re dedicated to helping them through the process and ensuring they get the support they deserve.