In the first half of the 20th century, most people viewed asbestos as a miracle mineral, which is why it was heavily used in all kinds of military installations, bases, vehicles, ships, and airplanes, despite the dangers it presented to military personnel. It is estimated that over 30% of veterans are highly likely to develop serious diseases after they served. Veterans who get sick from asbestos exposure during their military service may wonder what asbestos-related diseases are recognized and accepted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
When you make an asbestos-related VA claim, both service records showing your military job and medical evidence that state diagnosis of an asbestos illness are utterly required.
A Number of Conditions Related to Asbestos Exposure Qualify for Disability Compensation
If you are a veteran who is suffering because of the past military asbestos exposure, one of the following asbestos-related diseases makes you eligible for filing a VA disability compensation claim:
- Pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Esophageal cancer
- Throat cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pleural plaques
- Atelectasis
- Histoplasmosis
It is worth noting that if you suffer from multiple illnesses as a consequence of asbestos exposure during active military service, you can request financial compensation for each.
In certain cases, the veteran applying for a VA benefit might be required to undergo the medical examination at a VA hospital in order to have their diagnosis confirmed. Nevertheless, this is a rare occurrence and the majority of veterans will be able to skip this step if they already have reliable and accurate medical proof of their disease.
Misdiagnosis is quite common among asbestos-exposed veterans as many of the early symptoms of asbestos-related lung diseases are similar to other respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema or pneumonia. Therefore, it is essential that individuals with a history of military asbestos exposure get a second, even third opinion from a specialist to properly identify and treat their illness. For example, B-Reader evaluation and screening is a simple and painless procedure that gives you greater chances of detecting asbestos-related cancers earlier. B-Readers are physicians trained and certified in reading asbestos-related lung X-rays, by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Practically, a B-Reader looks for changes or abnormalities on the chest X-ray that can be caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers and particles.
If you are looking for help with your VA disability claim, our compassionate and experienced consultants can be a real support in this process. Don't hesitate to reach out for the guidance and assistance you need.