U.S. Marine Corps veterans claims

The U.S. Marine Corps deliver combined-arms support anywhere needed, generally using the mobility provided by the Navy. Because of this fact, U.S. marines were exposed to the same dangers as the Navy servicemen and women, since asbestos-rich products were and are still around. Asbestos products U.S. Marine Corps veterans were exposed to include:

• boilers
• pipe insulation
• pumps
• valves
• brakes
• electrical cables
• gaskets
• clutches

On land, asbestos was also used in the construction of many Marine Corps bases and barracks, thus, many Marine Corps veterans may have been exposed to asbestos through items which include:

• cement
• floor tiles
• ceiling tiles
• heating ducts
• roof coating
• asphalt
• shingles
• paint
• wallboard

The U.S. Armed Forces started restricting and heavily regulating the use of asbestos in army products in the 1970s; however, thousands of vehicles, barracks, and products built or made before that time are still rich in this toxic mineral.

Our clients served at various Marine Corps bases throughout the country, including:

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
• Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
• Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
• Marine Corps Base Hawaii
• Marine Corps Base Quantico
• Mountain Warfare Training Center
• Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
• Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley Butler
• Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Surviving family members of deceased Marine Corps veterans are entitled to financial compensation

Surviving spouses and dependents of Marine Corps veterans who have died from an asbestos-related illness as a result of their service may be eligible to get a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Eligible survivors can also receive compensation from one or more of the several trust funds established to compensate victims and their families. If you lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease let us explain how we can help you during this difficult time.

Oftentimes, veterans who were victims of asbestos exposure refuse to seek financial compensation during their lifetime or they tragically pass away before the conclusion of their claim. In such circumstances, surviving spouses and dependents can step in and can either file a claim with asbestos trust funds to recover compensation on behalf of their loved one or, if the victim had already filed an asbestos claim before death, they can bring the process to fruition. Regardless of your situation, we can help you get the information and resources you need.

The U.S. Marine Corps historically used firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals known as “forever chemicals”. The chemicals - the perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) - which were used in firefighting foams to rapidly extinguish fuel fires and protect against catastrophic loss of life, have been linked to some types of cancer.

If you are a Marine veteran and you believe that your health problems might have been caused or exacerbated by exposure to PFAS, see your occupational healthcare provider and document your exposure.

It is required that military firefighters have their blood tested for PFAS chemicals, as the chemicals do not break down over time and are known to build up in the human body. Over time, this build-up can lead to the development of multiple types of cancer:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Thyroid disease
• Bladder cancer
• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Hogkin's lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Liver cancer

If you, or a loved one, have been harmed by exposure to the PFAS in the fire suppressant AFFF, and later diagnosed with one of the above-mentioned diseases, get in touch with our experts who will help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.

For decades, active duty Marines, their spouses, and their family members have lived in on-base houses and neighborhoods laced with cancer-causing chemicals.

For instance, from the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune - one of the largest Marine Corps Base on the East Coast - were exposed to certain harmful chemicals, including PFAS.

According to the VA, up to 900,000 military personnel and their family members were stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, numerous of whom came to struggle with life-threatening medical conditions as a result of exposure to the chemicals present in the area.

The number of Marine Corps bases and installations with known contamination or suspected discharges of PFAS, continues to rise, according to an environmental advocacy group keeping tally based on information obtained from the Defense Department.

In addition to PFAS, which was the primary contaminant, there were other dangerous chemicals present on U.S. Marine Corps bases and installations that active-duty Marines and veterans may have been exposed to:

• trichloroethylene (TCE)
• perchloroethylene (PCE)
• vinyl chloride
• benzene
• halogenated hydrocarbons
• trihalomethanes

If you are a veteran or a family member of one who was stationed on one of the U.S. Marine Corps bases for at least one year and developed a severe disease, you are eligible for compensation, which our experienced legal team will help you recover.

In addition to the various other risks inherent to military operations, the use of 3M Dual-Ended or Reversible Combat Arms Earplugs, also known as CAEv2, was a constant danger for U.S. Marine Corps serving in combat zones between 2003 and 2015. These military-issued earplugs were defective, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus. Our team of experts is filing claims related to the 3M Combat Arms earplugs and the subsequent hearing loss and tinnitus reported by veterans and active-duty Marines. If you served in the U.S. Marine Corps and experience the following signs of hearing loss, it is advisable to see a physician and audiologist to diagnose the condition and to explain treatment and management options:

• difficulty following a conversation
• asking people to repeat themselves
• difficulty hearing on the phone
• ringing, buzzing, clicking, hissing, or whooshing in one or both ears
• feeling exhausted from having to concentrate while listening

In the unfortunate event that you developed a hearing disability as a consequence of using 3M Combat Arms earplugs, you are eligible for two types of claims, a 3M manufacturer claim, and a VA claim. We can help you with both.