U.S. Navy veterans claims

We file claims on behalf of U.S. Navy veterans and family members

When people think about disabling conditions that could affect veterans, they typically focus on physical wounds incurred in combat or mental health problems such as depression, or anxiety. However, another major cause of veterans’ disabilities is exposure to hazardous substances and defective products.

The following list of hazards is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a better idea of the types of exposure that may qualify you for financial compensation:

• toxic contamination at U.S. military bases
• exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the toxic chemicals in AFFF
• the use of defective 3M Combat Earplugs
• asbestos exposure

If you developed a serious illness after serving in the U.S. Navy, you may qualify for VA disability pay, health care benefits, and other benefits if you:

• were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general);
• were exposed to an environmental hazard and/or a defective product during your military service;
• have a disability caused by your exposure to toxic substances or/and the use of defective products during your military service.

Our expert team can help you file a compensation claim in addition to your VA disability benefits claim.

Asbestos products U.S. Navy veterans were exposed to

Although as early as the beginning of the 20^th century there were suspicions regarding the health hazards posed by asbestos, the U.S. administration and private companies refused, for a long time, to investigate the issue and to minimize and regulate the uses of asbestos. The U.S. Navy was among the most reticent; as a result until the early 1980s asbestos was used in hundreds of products that posed serious health risks for the servicemen and women working in their close proximity:

• insulation
• tiling
• electrical cables
• gaskets
• packing
• sheathing
• roof coating
• siding
• brake linings
• mastics
• spackling

U.S. Navy ships are known for asbestos exposure

For the better part of the last century, asbestos was present in over 300 different products on U.S. Navy ships. Consequently, anyone who spent time on a military ship was inevitably exposed to this hazardous mineral, which today is known to cause numerous awful, often life-threatening diseases.

• lung cancer
• mesothelioma
• asbestosis
• pulmonary fibrosis
• pleurisy
• lung nodules
• pleural effusion
• diffuse pleural thickening
• pleural plaques
• COPD
• pneumonitis
• rounded atelectasis

Approximately 30% of lung cancer patients are veterans. If you were aboard any of the following U.S. Navy ships, you were also exposed to asbestos:

Areas of the ship with the heaviest asbestos exposure

While asbestos exposure affected everyone who was present on the U.S. Navy ships before 1980, when asbestos use was finally regulated in the military, there were certain areas on the ships where asbestos exposure occurred to a great extent. People who spent a long time in these areas were heavily exposed to asbestos, which may result in the development of a terrible disease over the years. For this reason, we strongly encourage veterans who were present for a long time in the following ship areas to undergo regular medical examination, as they are at high risk of developing a disease such as lung cancer or mesothelioma:

• the damage control room
• the pump room
• the engine room
• the propulsion room
• the boiler room
• the powder and shot magazine
• the pilot house
• the ward room
• the turret

Navy veterans are commonly misdiagnosed with the wrong pulmonary diseases

It is crucial to know that, because the diseases which can ensue from asbestos exposure take a long time to develop, the risk of illness remains throughout your lifetime if you are a Navy veteran. Another important aspect you should be aware of is that oftentimes, people who come to suffer from such a disease do not experience symptoms until it is too advanced to respond to treatment. Therefore, undergoing regular screenings is vital if you have a history of military asbestos exposure. Early diagnosis is instrumental and can even save your life or at least prolong it to a great extent. A simple chest X-ray can reveal the presence of asbestos fibers in your lungs, as well as whether the mineral has caused any damage hitherto. Other important tests and procedures diagnosing asbestos-associated lung diseases include:

• pulmonary function tests
• blood tests
• sputum cytology tests
• ultrasounds
• CT Scans
• MRIs
• PET Scans

To promote timely detection and help Navy veterans avoid misdiagnosis – which is unfortunately very common among asbestos victims – the medical specialists at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. offer no-cost screenings in Birmingham, AL. All you have to do is provide our experts with your most recent chest X-rays and, after a careful evaluation, they will let you know whether there is cause for concern with regard to the health of your lungs. Benefiting from a second opinion is extremely important when it comes to diseases caused by asbestos exposure, as assigning a correct diagnosis is a challenging task even for the most experienced specialists.

If you lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease, you are eligible for financial compensation

Surviving spouses and dependents of Navy veterans who have died from an asbestos-related illness as a result of their service may be eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. Since 1990, the lawyers at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. have been assisting veterans injured by asbestos, who can now easily recover the compensation they deserve. We will also provide legal assistance to families who lost a loved one under these circumstances.

If their loved one has passed away from lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease, family members can also receive compensation from one or more of several trust funds created to pay victims and their families. Because the money comes from the asbestos trust funds which have been set up by liable companies within the past three decades, the legal process involves no litigation and takes significantly less time to complete than a regular lawsuit.