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Asbestos Exposure and VA Benefits

About Asbestos Exposure and VA Benefits

This article answers questions about asbestos exposure and VA benefits the may be available if you have a related illness.

If you are a Veteran and you served in any of the following occupations you may have been exposed to asbestos:

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

If you served in Iraq and/or other countries in that region, you could have been exposed to asbestos when older buildings were damaged and the contaminant released into the air.

Breathing asbestos mainly causes problems in the lungs and the membrane that surrounds the lungs, including:

  • Asbestosis: Scarring of lung tissue that causes breathing problems. Usually in workers exposed to asbestos in workplaces before the Federal government began regulating asbestos use (mid-1970s).
  • Pleural plaques: Scarring in the inner surface of the ribcage and area surrounding the lungs that can cause breathing problems. Though usually not as serious as asbestosis.  People living in areas with high environmental levels of asbestos, as well as workers, can develop pleural plaques.
  • Cancer: The two types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos are lung cancer and mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lung (pleural membrane) or abdominal cavity (the peritoneum).  Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer usually caused by asbestos exposure.

It is important to note that the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases, such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain, often do not appear until 20 to 50 years after the exposure.

WE CAN HELP!

You may file a claim for disability compensation for asbestos-related health problems if you believe you were exposed asbestos during your military service. At Cameron Firm, PC we are dedicated to helping veterans like you secure all the benefits you deserve.  Call us today at 800-861-7262 or use our secure online contact box to the right. We are here to help you.

This article is for educational and marketing purposes only. So, it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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