Mesothelioma Attorney Information for Veterans

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The Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Center - Veterans

Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing event. Your future is uncertain, you’re fighting for life, scared about the possibility of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. But there are many people who know what you’re going through, and they want to help.

Having a solid support system is paramount when fighting cancer. It’s no different for U.S. armed forces veterans, especially for those who develop serious asbestos-related cancers caused by extensive asbestos exposure while they were in the military. Navy veterans and workers employed by U.S. shipyards are very susceptible to developing mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer because asbestos was heavily used in the construction of naval ships.

Unfortunately, not many veterans’ organizations offer specific mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer benefits, and veterans may discover that obtaining those benefits can be difficult.

The first place most veterans with these illnesses will turn to is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While veterans have rights to VA federal health and disability benefits, there is no guarantee that they’ll be approved for those benefits. The VA does not currently recognize mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer as a “service-related” disorder, a disease or illness that is linked to one’s military service.

Unfortunately, the same problem exists for organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War, both of which provide federal benefits to their members. (Both groups do support the creation of a trust fund to compensate veterans and/or their dependents who are suffering from asbestos-related ailments. However, they want to do so without altering the VA’s current benefits program.)

That discovery can be surprising and discouraging. There is hope, however, as a couple of advocacy organizations that specialize in facilitating VA and social security benefits approval and proper treatment for veterans with mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. While it’s not 100 percent certain that an individual will be approved for VA benefits, Veterans Helping Veterans and Cancer Watchdog can assist.

Both groups are free, one-source outlets that are catered to veterans and their loved ones afflicted with asbestos-related ailments. Veterans Helping Veterans is a nationally-recognized group that was created by a group of veterans who wanted to help their fellow servicemen - according to its Web site VAclaim.org. That is why the group works so hard to ensure veterans with asbestos diseases are treated properly by the VA.

Since it specializes in service-connected cancer claims, Veterans Helping Veterans has been successful in gaining VA benefits for veterans with asbestos cancers, evidenced by its average award time of a little over three months. The group’s counselors also assist with a variety of issues, including helping patients find proper legal representation, providing them with information about asbestos cancer or mesothelioma and possible medical treatments for both diseases, as well as answering any other questions that may arise along the way.

While it’s not exclusively geared toward veterans, the Cancer Watchdog Group (cancerwatchdog.com) can help those with asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma gain proper benefits. Launched in late 2006 by American’s Watchdog, the Cancer Watchdog Group was created because of the lack of informative and helpful organizations available to veterans and people with asbestos-related ailments. The Cancer Watchdog Groups says that it is the most comprehensive program of its kind in the U.S.

Much like Veterans Helping Veterans, Cancer Watchdog Group counselors also provide victims and their families with a number of services ranging from obtaining VA benefits or appealing rejected VA benefits, securing social security benefits, providing legal and medical advice, and answering questions.