Veterans exposed to asbestos in the military who now have mesothelioma may receive VA benefits by filing a claim. The VA pays benefits to veterans with illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. This may include disability compensation, health care services and other benefits.
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Written by Aaron Munz | Veterans Review By Nathan Pinner | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: August 15, 2024
VA claims allow veterans to access disability compensation, which provides monetary aid to those with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers and conditions. Disability compensation is tax-free and usually paid monthly.
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A veteran’s disability level, which is interpreted on a percentage scale, determines the amount of compensation. The VA considers mesothelioma 100% disabling because it is a terminal disease. This means eligible veterans with mesothelioma receive the maximum monthly benefit.
In December 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs increased compensation rates for veterans. The disability benefit for mesothelioma starts at $3,877 per month and increases depending on the number of dependents a veteran has.
Certain military occupations required veterans to handle asbestos products, including shipbuilding, vehicle repair and maintenance jobs. The VA notes that veterans who served in Iraq, and other countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia may have been exposed to asbestos in damaged older buildings.
Navy veteran Bob Niemiec is a mesothelioma survivor who even doctors say defied the odds. The 78-year-old was given just 10 months to live in 2019, but that hasn’t stopped him from living every day he can to his fullest. Medical experts say Niemiec is not the average mesothelioma patient.
Veterans with mesothelioma file VA claims to access a variety of helpful benefits. They may be eligible for VA disability compensation, health care, aid and attendance, caregiver benefits and more. These benefits help relieve the burden of living with mesothelioma for veterans and their loved ones.
If you have mesothelioma, being in contact with The Mesothelioma Center is a wonderful, wonderful source of information. Amy [Pelegrin] was able to answer any questions I had. It changed our world, is what it did. Our world was turned upside down. But without this group I don’t know where we would be.
An approved VA disability claim also grants veterans access to free cancer treatment through the VA health care system. Veterans receiving disability compensation are not required to receive mesothelioma treatment at a VA hospital.
To receive benefits based on asbestos exposure, veterans must meet certain criteria. Neither age nor household income affects a veteran’s eligibility for disability compensation. Income level only affects VA pensions. If the VA considers your mesothelioma diagnosis service-connected, you will be eligible for 100% disability compensation regardless of your income level.
If you file a traditional VA claim it becomes the VA’s responsibility to gather all the necessary paperwork. This process is slow, usually taking around eight months. You can expedite the decision by submitting all the required supporting documentation with the original claim. The VA calls this a fully developed claim, typically taking around four months to process. An accredited claims agent can help you put together a fully developed claim.
The VA provides benefits for any disease that military asbestos exposure causes. It recognizes a wide range of asbestos-related diseases. The VA recognizes pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma as 100% disabling, but asbestosis or other types of noncancerous conditions may be rated anywhere between 10% and 100%.
Although lung cancer and several types of gastrointestinal cancer are linked to asbestos exposure, these diseases also have other potential causes such as smoking, hereditary factors and exposure to other dangerous substances.
To get the VA to approve these types of cancers as service-related conditions, veterans must provide medical documentation that convinces the agency that asbestos caused their cancer. Asbestos exposure must be as likely to be the cause as all other potential causes combined.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes that these conditions may impact veterans from all branches and multiple periods of service. The disability claims process is slightly different for the types of diseases the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes.
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Veterans who qualify for several VA benefits must fill out different forms for each benefit. The filing process is generally the same even though the forms vary.
Knowing how to prove your asbestos exposure is the most important factor in filing a successful claim. Working with a VA-accredited representative can help you cut through the red tape. They can help you avoid the pitfalls that lead to disappointing results.
In addition to disability compensation, the VA also provides health care services, aid and attendance benefits, dependency and indemnity compensation and other programs and services.
Disability compensation is the main VA benefit for veterans disabled by their military service. The VA awards compensation based on how serious the injury is. The amount awarded also changes if you have family members who depend on you.
For example, if you have a 10% disability rating, the VA awards about $171 each month. But if your injury is 100% disabling, you could get over $3,877 every month.
Certain illnesses, including mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, receive the highest rating of 100%. Noncancerous conditions, such as asbestosis, can be rated anywhere from 0% to 100% disabling.
Commonly known as DIC, this monthly benefit is available to the surviving spouse of a veteran whose service-connected disability caused their death. The monthly benefit starts at about $1,612.
A spouse needs to file a DIC claim even if their loved one was receiving disability compensation for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease before their death. If a veteran was not receiving VA compensation, a surviving spouse may apply for DIC. They must submit information documenting the service-related asbestos exposure.
Also known as Special Monthly Compensation, this benefit is paid to veterans who are housebound, bedridden or disabled to a degree that they require the aid and attendance of someone else. This compensation is also available to spouses and parents of veterans.
The special monthly compensation someone receives depends on how much aid and attendance they require. The benefit usually runs from $4,651 to $6,382 a month.
Veterans with mesothelioma may be eligible for a service-connected disability claim which may be able to provide them with monthly income, provide their spouse with continuing benefits, as well as make them eligible for treatment at one of the VA medical centers that specializes in mesothelioma care.
Doctors who specialize in asbestos-related cancer serve VA treatment centers in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston. The VA can help veterans travel for treatment when necessary.
Even if a veteran’s cancer is not connected to service, they may still be eligible for low-cost treatment through the VA system. Our Veterans Department can help you understand if you qualify for this VA benefit.
The VA offers other programs and benefits for veterans with mesothelioma and their loved ones.
Eligibility requirements vary for these benefits, which means not every veteran with mesothelioma will qualify for all the benefits offered through the VA. Reach out to the VA or a VA-accredited claims agent to learn more about your eligibility for VA benefits.
Frequently asked questions about VA benefits
You must have a current medical diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer that a tissue biopsy has confirmed and you must provide evidence demonstrating that the majority of your lifetime exposure to asbestos occurred while serving on active duty.
Answered By: Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department & Former U.S. Army Captain
Once a service-connected disability rating is given, the VA will pay for all medical treatment at a Veterans Health Administration facility or, if approval is given, at a Community Care specialty center.
Answered By: Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department & Former U.S. Army Captain
Typically asbestos exposure can be “proven” with a personal statement included in a VA application that details where, when and how a veteran was exposed to specific asbestos materials and equipment during service.
Answered By: Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department & Former U.S. Army Captain
The VA doesn’t have a time limit for filing a post-service claim. However, generally the VA begins benefits when a claim is filed, not from when the disease was diagnosed. There are exceptions for some newly approved presumptive conditions.
Answered By: Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department & Former U.S. Army Captain
VA Disability Benefits are a monthly non-taxable payment that depend on your level of disability and the number of dependents you have. The disability percentage increases as the severity of the disease worsens. The rating ranges from 0% to 100%. A 10% rating is currently $171/month to more than $6,382 for 100%.
Answered By: Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department & Former U.S. Army Captain
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Munz, A. (2024, August 15). Filing Mesothelioma VA Claims for Asbestos Exposure. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-claims/
Munz, Aaron. "Filing Mesothelioma VA Claims for Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com, 15 Aug 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-claims/.
Munz, Aaron. "Filing Mesothelioma VA Claims for Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com. Last modified August 15, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-claims/.
A United States military veteran with knowledge of asbestos exposure reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current standards and accuracy.
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