Applicable to those who served on US Navy aircraft carriers between 1940 and 1980. (33% of all mesothelioma cases stem from U.S. Navy or shipyard asbestos exposure.)
Per Mesothelioma Hope:
The average mesothelioma settlement pays victims and their families $1.1 million to $1.4 million, but some people receive more. No legal action is taken against any branch of the U.S. military or government, and you can file a lawsuit without affecting your VA benefits. Some asbestos companies facing lawsuits related to their products filed for bankruptcy to avoid taking responsibility. However, they were court-ordered to set aside money to pay victims. Today, there’s more than $30 billion available in these trust funds.
By applying for VA benefits, you may be able to get tax-free monthly payments [$1700 per month federal and state tax free] to cover your medical bills and living expenses. These benefits can also help provide financial security for your spouse, children, and other loved ones.
You may also be eligible for disability compensation if you developed mesothelioma from being exposed to asbestos on aircraft carriers. Married veterans with mesothelioma are usually assigned a 100% disability rating from the VA, qualifying them for $4,158.17 per month as of 2026.
Age. Studies have shown that the younger people are when they inhale asbestos (and the longer and more intense the exposure), the more likely they are to later develop asbestos related problems.
Asbestos can cause several health effects. Mainly these health effects involve the lungs or membranes around the lungs. Asbestos related health effects are:
□ Pleural plaques. These are scars of the lining that surround the lungs (called the pleural membrane). Finding pleural plaques on a chest X-ray or a chest Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan is considered proof
that asbestos exposure did occur sometime in the past. In the overwhelming majority of cases, pleural plaques do not cause any symptoms at all.
□ Asbestosis is a condition in which the asbestos fibers that were inhaled cause the lung tissue to scar up and cause lung tissue to become thick, stiff, and scarred. Asbestosis is a serious disease which can progress and cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chronic cough, and other effects. There is a higher risk of lung infections and pneumonia in persons with asbestosis