MESOTHELIOMA AMONG MILITARY VETERANS
Approximately 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are military veterans

Instances of mesothelioma plague military veterans.

Military veterans were typically unaware of the deadly mesothelioma risk associated with occupational asbestos exposure. If you are a military veteran and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease, we will provide a free case review to determine your eligibility to receive compensation.

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of workers injured by asbestos for some 25 years – longer than most law firms in the nation. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients.

July 30, 2009 - According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of veterans were exposed to asbestos during their service, making them vulnerable to developing fatal asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

A former Interior Communications Petty Officer aboard the USS Peleliu LHA-5 said many ocean-going employees worked around asbestos for years without any protective equipment or warnings of the dangers. Below the ocean, asbestos aboard submarines was quite common.

“We didn’t have air respirators, gloves or suits, no protective gear. But there wasn’t much information out about asbestos, or asbestos mesothelioma at that time, as I recall,” said the officer.

Mesothelioma among military veterans

More than 300 asbestos-containing products were utilized by many sectors of the military from the 1930s through the 1970s. Those who served years ago are beginning to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma, today.

That’s because there is a long latency period associated with asbestos illnesses. It can take 20 to 50 years for an asbestos-related disease to develop, so veterans who served decades ago are now beginning to be diagnosed with these illnesses. Despite the long latency period, mesothelioma life expectancy after a diagnosis is approximately one year.

Asbestos appeared on most ships used by the Navy and in the shipyards where ships and vessels were built. Manufacturers of asbestos often knew of the dangers surrounding the mineral, though military personnel were typically unaware.

Approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States.

Military veterans with mesothelioma can seek compensation

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and seek FREE legal guidance and answers to your concerns, please notify us through the communication form below. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, future and past lost wages, and damages. There is no cost to you until we win a settlement or a verdict.