That’s just one way of saying more than 30 percent of Americans suffering with mesothelioma (a cancer of the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart) were exposed to asbestos during their military or naval service.

Veterans who served up to the 1970s have a great risk of developing asbestosis, cancer and other related disease. And, for Navy personnel and workers employed in shipyards through the 1970s, the risk  for developing a disease caused by asbestos exposure is even greater.

Veterans with an asbestos related illness should contact a veteran’s service officer and file their claims. It is important you select a VSO who will think outside of the VA box, especially on these type conditions.

The veteran must provide proof that their disease is asbestos related and that exposure occurred during military service. The burden of proof is always on the veteran, in this case, due to mind sets, the proof is difficult even though it is totally obvious.

The Department of Veteran Affairs recognizes asbestos as well as mesothelioma as a service connected disability.

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Although asbestos exposure does not always lead to an illness, frequent and long term exposure will greatly raise those risks. Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses such as asbestosis and malignant pleural mesothelioma, a severe lung ailment that accounts for three percent of cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Flash Point movies Asbestos-related illnesses may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure, which makes mesothelioma diagnosis even more difficult.

Asbestos manufacturers were aware of the toxic qualities surrounding the mineral but repressed this information from the public, often with government assistance, in the case of the military.

The Jane Austen Book Club movies Currently, mesothelioma is not readily recognized as a service-related medical ailment. However, veterans can apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits for asbestos-related illness if they can  provide proof that their exposure occurred at the time of their military service.

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A Dennis the Menace Christmas dvd If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, please consult with an experienced asbestos attorney right away. You could qualify for compensation but, depending on where you live, there could be time limits on your case.

Gerald Gray died in April of 2009 from mesothelioma.  He contracted the disease after inhaling asbestos fibers on naval ships for many years.  His family has recently been awarded over $1 million in damages.

Gray joined the Navy in 1951 and served for 20 years until he retired in 1971.  During those 20 years, he worked on many ships and rose to command master chief for the Atlantic fleet, which is the second highest enlisted rank in the Navy.

Asbestos was used extensively on submarines and ships on parts such as gaskets, seals, pumps, and other boiler room applications.  Asbestos was found to have extreme ability to resist heat, fire, salt water, and other biological processes.  Not only was it used by the military on vessels, but also in shore-based buildings like barracks and offices.  Many veterans who served between World War II and into the 1980s have contracted mesothelioma from the exposure to so much asbestos.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that very difficult to diagnose. It often takes 20 years or longer for mesothelioma cancer symptoms to appear and by then, it is too late for successful treatment. This is the heart break of asbestos exposure.

Four of the five initial defendants settled out of court.  But the jury was not told of the out-of-court settlements and was allowed to assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties.  John Crane Inc., which manufactures gaskets and other parts used on the vessels, was assigned 30 percent of the blame, which totaled about $1.2 million.