Help with VA benefits
Military veterans often face a wide array of health challenges due to their time of service, in the forms of both mental and physical ailments. Some of these conditions will manifest during their tour of duty and can be cured or easily rectified, while others will take years or even decades to appear. Issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems involving the mind can take years to properly assess, whereas physical problems such as the development of mesothelioma - an aggressive form of cancer - may not display any symptoms in a veteran until ten, 20 or 40 years after they have left the military. At that time, finding VA benefits can be one of the best ways to not only pay for the cost of treatment, but also seek compensation for some of the suffering they have endured. Many veterans find that they need help with VA benefits in order to navigate the labyrinth of forms and requirements necessary before they are approved for coverage, and because mesothelioma is not recognized by the VA as a "service-connected" condition. While a veteran can still be approved for benefits under the VA program, their entrance is not guaranteed if they have contracted mesothelioma as a result of their time in the military.
Mesothelioma develops in humans as a direct result of the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral, was used in the first half of the 20th century as an insulator in a wide variety of products and industrial processes. One of the most prominent uses of asbestos was in Navy ships and shipyards, where it was used to insulate engine and boiler rooms. Those who worked on building Navy ships or who were stationed on them for long periods of time are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma, which presents when an asbestos fiber stuck in the mesothelium lining of the heart, lungs or abdomen causes an unnatural cell division. This cancer is often mistaken for pneumonia or the flu, as its symptoms are similar, and it is essential that veterans who may have been exposed tell their doctor so the proper tests can be run. Once mesothelioma has been confirmed, the next step will be applying for VA benefits. You will be eligible for potential benefits if you are a veteran or the dependent of a veteran, if you are a currently uniformed service member, or if you are a child, spouse or parent of a veteran who has passes away. If you meet the basic criteria, your next step will be to apply for VA benefits, which can either be done online with the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP), or you can apply at a regional VA office in person. In order to be approved for VA benefits, a veteran must show that they have a condition that presented as a result of their time in the service - and as stated above, mesothelioma is not considered to be service-connected. This does not mean that the VA will deny all mesothelioma claims - rather, those with mesothelioma are not entitled to any special benefits that apply in cases of Agent Orange exposure or Gulf War illness.
Once a veteran has been approved for their VA benefits, they will be able to choose from any of the 1,400 treatment centers across the United States that the VA maintains. The facilities in both Boston and Los Angeles are well-known for their mesothelioma programs, and both have developed cutting-edge techniques to deal with this cancer. Typically, the treatment offered by the VA will be a form of trimodality therapy, which is a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Although no cure for mesothelioma has yet been discovered, trimodality therapy has been able to not only provide pain and symptom relief, but significantly increase the lifespan of veterans suffering with mesothelioma - sometimes by as much as five years.
Veterans make up a significant portion of those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year - out of 3,000 cases which are reported annually, veterans typically account for 30 percent. VA benefits can help to significantly offset the cost of mesothelioma treatment, and in combination with a lawsuit or settlement from an asbestos manufacturer, can provide at least some form of compensation. If you'd like to know more about getting help with VA benefits, fill out the form below for a free brochure, which will provide you will information on applying for, receiving and using your VA benefits to their maximum effect.