Mesothelioma and Veterans

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by exposure to tiny, glass-like asbestos fibers. There are almost 3,300 new mesothelioma cases each year in the United States. 

Thirty percent of mesothelioma cases are veterans, making veterans the largest group of people impacted by asbestos exposure. This is due to asbestos use on military and naval installations, overseas combat areas, and some military service occupations. 

Eligible mesothelioma veterans can apply for veterans benefits. Veteran benefits can assist with the high treatment costs, lost income, and pain and suffering associated with this deadly asbestos disease.

VA Health Care 

To receive care from Veterans Affairs or a community provider, you have to be enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment at any time. 

Veterans usually have no out-of-pocket costs, but some may have small copayments for health care or prescription drugs. Information needed to apply: 

• Social Security number (required)
• Copy of your military discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents)
• Financial information (and your dependents’ financial information)
• Most recent tax return
• Account numbers for any health insurance you currently have (such as Medicare, private insurance, or insurance from an employer)

Disability Compensation 

Candidates might qualify for VA disability benefits or compensation if they have a mesothelioma diagnosis or an asbestos-related disease and meet at least one of the VA disability requirements below.

These criteria include previously serving on active military duty, active training, or inactive training, and receiving a disability rating due to a military service-related illness or disability.

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may also qualify if just one of the following criteria are met:

In-Service Disability Claim – Development of sickness or injury during and caused by military service.

Pre-Service Disability Claim –  Had an illness or injury before joining the military, and subsequent military duties made it worse.

Post-Service Disability Claim – Development of a disability-related to active-duty service that did not appear until after service ended.

Determining Your Disability Compensation Rating

The VA assigns a disability rating based on the severity of your condition. This determines the amount of disability compensation you would receive each month, as well as eligibility for other VA benefits.

Your rating is based on evidence provided by a doctor. First, this generally requires reviewing a doctor’s report or medical test results. Second, the VA may consider your ‘VA claim exam results.’ This is also known as a ‘compensation and pension exam,’ which is conducted only if the VA determines it is needed.  

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Suppose you receive a VA pension and meet the disabled veterans’ eligibility requirements. In that case, you may file a VA claim for a monthly allowance for either VA Aid & Attendance or Housebound disability benefits.

VA Aid & Attendance eligibility requirements:

One or more of the following criteria must be true to receive disability compensation:

• You need help to perform daily activities due to mesothelioma symptoms,
• You are bed-ridden because of illness, 
• You are a nursing home patient due to a disability, or
• You have limited eyesight

Housebound VA disability benefits eligibility requirements:

You may be eligible for Housebound disability benefits if you are housebound due to a permanent disability.

To receive either of these VA disability benefits, you should talk to a patient advocate and complete and submit VA Form 21-2680.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers tax-free VA disability compensation to support a disabled veteran’s dependent children, spouses, or surviving parents. 

Spouses: Compensation benefits available to surviving spouses are determined based on the date of the veteran’s death. You can refer to the VA DIC rates for spouses and dependents for more specific information on eligibility and compensation.

Dependents: Compensation benefits available to dependents are determined by the dependent’s age and the number of dependents a veteran has. In the case of adult children, compensation is determined based on whether there is a surviving spouse and the child can support themselves. You may refer again to the VA DIC rates for spouses and dependents for more information on eligibility and compensation. 

Parents: Compensation benefits available depend on whether one or both parents are alive and their income level. Refer to the VA DIC rates for parents for more compensation information.

VA Burial Benefits:

The VA will pay mesothelioma veterans benefits up to $796* for burial and funeral expenses for a veteran who died on or after October 1, 2019. To be eligible, the veteran must be hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. 

If not hospitalized by the VA at the time of death, the VA pays $300 mesothelioma veterans benefits for burial and funeral expenses, and a $796 plot-interment allowance if not buried in a national cemetery. 

*As of 2011, the burial and plot allowance increases each year based on the Consumer Price Index

Basic requirements for filing a VA claim

An Application for a Claim for Disability Compensation for an asbestos-related illness is filed through the VA as an exposure to hazardous chemical materials. As of February 2021, it takes an average of 153 days for the VA to process a claim, so it is important to begin gathering supporting documentation.

You will need these supporting documents to submit with your VA disability claim:

Service Record – Your military service record copy listing your job proves you are eligible for benefits. 

Discharge Status – To receive VA benefits, you need a DD214 or separation document showing an honorable discharge from military service.

Exposure Summary – Create a written history of when and where your asbestos exposure occurred during your military service.

Medical Evidence – Contact your healthcare provider and explain that you are filing a VA claim for VA disability benefits and require medical records, and copies of notes related to your asbestos-related illness, or VA disability.

How Do I Submit My VA Claim?

After you gather the above information, you can either: 

• Complete your healthcare provider’s release of information form, and submit it with your VA claim, or
• Complete forms VA Form 21-4142, Authorization to Disclose Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and VA Form 21-4142a, General Release for Medical Provider Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and submit with your VA claim. Veterans Affairs will then obtain your records through their Private Medical Records contract.  

Depending on your situation, it might be possible to file your VA claim online. You may also file in person, through the mail, or with a professional. 

Medical Documentation

Veterans Affairs requires a doctor’s statement connecting your malignant mesothelioma illness or disability to your asbestos exposure during your military service.

Veterans Affairs may require additional forms if you cannot work due to VA disability, require disability compensation for homebound care for your asbestos disease, or require disability compensation for medical equipment to assist with your asbestos illness.

Veterans and Asbestos Exposure 

How Was Asbestos Used in the Military?

Asbestos is most hazardous when it can easily be crumbled by hand. This texture releases asbestos fibers into the air. Exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

Veterans who served in the following military service occupations might have suffered asbestos exposure: 

• mining 
• milling
• shipyard or insulation work 
• demolition of old buildings 
• carpentry and construction 
• manufacturing and installation of flooring or roofing products

Regardless of occupation, asbestos exposure has resulted in cases of mesothelioma, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma, in many veterans who served in Middle Eastern countries when old buildings were damaged.

Asbestos Exposure in Navy Ships and Shipyards

In particular, the Navy used asbestos-based products in its shipyards and ships built by the Navy before the mid-70s. The ships often contained multiple asbestos products in the engine, boiler rooms, and other areas below deck for fire safety purposes. Asbestos-based products also were used in navigation rooms, sleeping quarters, and mess halls, which led to many servicemen developing mesothelioma. 

Asbestos Exposure in the Army 

Asbestos exposure also occurred in the Army. In some cases, this was due to being stationed at older military facilities where asbestos was used in construction. The Army also purchased several asbestos products for military use, including mechanical parts. 

Army veterans with an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, are entitled to the same VA claims rules as Navy veterans. Those who have mesothelioma symptoms or a diagnosis are encouraged to follow up with the VA to seek compensation.  

Asbestos Exposure in the Air Force 

Air Force veterans in military service at any time between 1947 and 1980 could be victims of asbestos exposure. The Air Force used asbestos in military aircraft and base construction, repair, and maintenance. Additionally, it would purchase asbestos products.

Military veterans who served in the Air Force and were diagnosed with asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, are entitled to the same benefits as other military veterans as long as they submit VA claims as directed. 

Asbestos Exposure in the Marine Corps

Asbestos exposure occurred in the Marine Corps too. Many marines were transported on ships, lived in marine barracks on Marine Corps bases, and guarded buildings that were constructed with asbestos products.

Marine Corps veterans who have developed mesothelioma from their military service can file for VA benefits. The easiest way for veterans to receive compensation is to file a claim with the VA.

Asbestos Exposure in the Coast Guard

Coast Guard veterans assigned to Coast Guard cutters constructed before 1991 may have been exposed to asbestos. Veterans can apply for VA disability compensation for a disability that is a result of injury, disease, or an event in military service by filing a VA claim. 

When Was Asbestos Used?

Between 1930 and 1990, more than 5 million veterans experienced asbestos exposure. 

Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure in Military Dependents

Secondary asbestos exposure, also known as indirect asbestos exposure, occurred when servicemen exposed to asbestos passed it on to another person in their family because the servicemen carried asbestos fibers on their hair, skin, or clothing. 

The diagnosis of servicemen with malignant mesothelioma was often followed by family members, such as the wife or children, developing pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma. This was likely due to close contact with the servicemen or from washing their clothing. 

Cancer treatment for Veterans with Mesothelioma 

What treatments are available for veterans with mesothelioma? 

• Surgical techniques fully or partially remove cancerous lymph nodes, tissues, and tumors affecting the lung or abdomen.
• Radiation therapy attacks mesothelioma cells and prevents the spread of cancer.
• Chemotherapy is used to quickly kill mesothelioma cells, shrink tumors, and relieve pain symptoms. 

Does Chemo Work for Mesothelioma?

Every patient responds to chemotherapy differently. A specific chemotherapy drug may extend the life expectancy of one patient, while the same drug has little to no effect on another.  

Mesothelioma treatment usually relies on a combination of several different therapies rather than just chemotherapy. 

Chemotherapy can increase a mesothelioma veteran’s survival chances or reduce mesothelioma symptoms. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but chemotherapy is proven to help people with this rare and aggressive cancer.

Clinical Trials for Veterans

There is currently no cure for Mesothelioma. Medical research focuses on treating mesothelioma with clinical trials of promising experimental therapies to fight cancer and improve mesothelioma treatment options. Some of the more promising clinical trial treatments currently include:

• Immunotherapy drugs that target proteins in the body of the mesothelioma patient. Those destroyed proteins were preventing the immune system from attacking cancer cells. 
• Genetic therapy first removes a mesothelioma patient’s immune system T-cells. Then, the therapy alters the T-cells to multiply, and then targets and kills lung cancer cells. The T-cells are then reinjected into the patient’s body.

Veterans Choice Program for Mesothelioma

In June 2019, President Trump signed the MISSION Act, which ended the Veteran’s Choice Program and established a new Veteran’s Community Care Program to consolidate all the Veterans Affairs care programs. 

The MISSION Act should provide veterans access to healthcare through telehealth, community healthcare, and urgent care facilities. Veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system and demonstrate barriers to using the VA health care system to use outside health care sources.

Common Questions About Mesothelioma & Veterans