With a pleurisy diagnosis alone, you are not eligible for compensation. But given the fact that the rate of misdiagnosis is high, and the cancer risk is high with asbestos exposure, we strongly recommend you get a second and even third opinion outside the VA. If you are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, you become eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation.
Pleurisy often occurs before mesothelioma
Although pleurisy can be caused by common lung infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, asbestos exposure is very likely to result in the inflammation of the pleura as well. Inhaled fibers will remain in the lungs for an unlimited period of time, since the human body is not designed to naturally eliminate them, which may lead to inflammation and tissue scarring over the years. It is important to mention that the effects of asbestos exposure appear only within 20 to 50 years, so being regularly evaluated by a specialist is vital if you have a history of exposure.
The most common symptoms of pleurisy are:
- shortness of breath
- coughing
- chest pain which intensifies when coughing and ceases when you hold your breath
- difficulty breathing
- chest tenderness
- pain in the neck, shoulders, or abdomen