North Carolina Asbestos Exposure in Veterans

Many veterans have suffered long-term health problems due to exposure to asbestos during their service. Asbestos exposure can cause severe medical conditions, including respiratory illnesses and cancer.

You could be entitled to compensation if you’re a veteran suffering from an asbestos-related disease. Our North Carolina veterans asbestos exposure lawyers can help you seek the full benefits you deserve.

The asbestos lawyers at Ward Black Law understand veterans’ unique challenges in pursuing legal action related to asbestos exposure and can provide guidance on the best courses to take. From protecting your rights by filing claims, we can help you seek the compensation you deserve for the harm you’ve suffered.

Contact us today for a free legal case review with an experienced North Carolina veteran asbestos exposure attorney, ready to assist veterans regardless of where their exposure occurred.

Veterans and Asbestos Exposure

The United States military has a long history of using asbestos in equipment and facilities. Unfortunately, the widespread use of asbestos put many veterans and military personnel at risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis

How Did the U.S. Military Use Asbestos?

Valued for its heat-resistant and insulating properties, asbestos was used in constructing ships, aircraft, tanks, barracks and other military structures, insulation for electrical systems and components, and sealing pipes and line walls of structures. Unfortunately, many of the exposed service members did not know the dangers of asbestos exposure until it was too late.

Some branches of the military had particularly high asbestos exposure risks:

• US Navy: Shipbuilding and maintenance heavily utilized asbestos, putting sailors at risk.
• US Marine Corps: Marines often worked closely with Navy personnel and faced similar asbestos risks.
• US Army: Asbestos was used in Army buildings and vehicles, exposing servicemembers.
• US Coast Guard: Coast Guard vessels contained asbestos materials that put members at risk.
• US Air Force: Insulation and aircraft parts containing asbestos exposed Air Force members.

Military Jobs with High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Virtually any service member could have been exposed to asbestos in the military. The military occupations with the highest risk of asbestos exposure include shipyard workers, aircraft mechanics, boiler technicians, pipefitters, electricians, construction workers, demolition experts, and those involved in chemical weapons production. In addition to these occupations, those who worked in ship engine rooms and boiler rooms, on flight lines, or in any maintenance facility were likely exposed to asbestos fibers without knowing it.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Not only were military personnel at risk of asbestos exposure but so were their families. This is known as secondary asbestos exposure, and it can occur through contact with clothing and items contaminated by asbestos fibers released into the air by a worker’s job duties.

Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure for Veterans

The U.S. military’s use of asbestos products has had a long-lasting effect on the health of many veterans. As a result, veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service are at an increased risk of developing severe medical conditions. Vets who served in the Navy were particularly susceptible due to the prevalence of asbestos use in shipyards and aboard ships between the 1930s and 1970s.

Diseases Linked to Asbestos Exposure in Veterans

Veterans exposed to asbestos during their service may risk developing various diseases. The most common illnesses linked to asbestos exposure in veterans include:

• Mesothelioma – This aggressive form of cancer affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and other organs.  It can have a latency of up to 50 years from exposure to diagnosis
• Lung cancer – Exposure to asbestos, especially long-term exposure, greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The symptoms of this condition can include coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
• Asbestosis – This type of lung scarring occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed and build up in the lungs over time. Symptoms include breathing difficulties, chest tightness, and chronic coughing.
• Pleural plaques – These scarred areas on the covering of the lungs can cause pain and breathing difficulties.

Are Military Veterans Still at Risk of Developing Mesothelioma?

After initial exposure, asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to manifest. Unfortunately, many veterans do not realize they were exposed until they start to experience symptoms or after they have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Even now,  military personnel may be exposed to old asbestos-containing equipment or products that put them at risk for developing serious diseases such as mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Therefore, military personnel needs to be aware of the dangers of asbestos and seek medical attention if they suspect they’re experiencing exposure-related symptoms.

Mesothelioma Treatments for Military Veterans

Military veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma have access to specialized treatment options from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA operates several hospitals nationwide that offer specialized treatment options for mesothelioma. In addition, the MISSION Act was passed in 2019, expanding VA healthcare coverage to include approved local providers, meaning veterans may now access treatment from facilities outside of the VA system and still receive reimbursement for their expenses.

Asbestos Settlements and Legal Claims

Veterans may be able to hold asbestos product manufacturing companies responsible for their role in producing and supplying products that contain this dangerous substance. Some of these companies are still in business today, meaning they can be sued directly. Other companies have set up asbestos trust funds to cover compensation for victims of asbestos exposure.

Filing legal claims against asbestos product manufacturing companies and distributors can provide victims with much-needed financial relief. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income due to inability to work, emotional suffering, and other losses due to health complications from asbestos exposure.  If an individual has died as a result of an asbestos-related disease, the next of kin can often continue claims.

VA Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos

Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service and who developed an asbestos-related illness may be eligible for financial assistance from the VA. Benefits are available for veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other conditions associated with asbestos exposure.

Benefits may include health care coverage, treatment at VA hospitals, and a monthly disability compensation payment. To access VA benefits, veterans, generally, must not have been dishonorably discharged, must have been exposed to asbestos during their time in the military, and must have gotten sick as a result.

Claims against manufacturers and distributors do not have to meet the VA’s criteria.