By Michael Throneberry, founder of Throneberry Law Group
Veterans make up a large share of mesothelioma cases because asbestos was used so heavily across the military, especially aboard Navy ships. If you served and later developed mesothelioma, you may have more than one way to get help, and VA benefits are often the first place to look. For many families, sorting out these benefits is the first step toward some financial stability during treatment.
At Throneberry Law Group, we help veterans and their families understand how VA benefits fit with the other claims available after an asbestos diagnosis. Michael Throneberry founded the firm after his father-in-law died of mesothelioma, and standing up for veterans is some of the work we care about most.
Why So Many Veterans Develop Mesothelioma
Asbestos was built into ships, vehicles, boiler rooms, barracks, and countless pieces of equipment through the 1970s. Navy veterans face the highest risk because asbestos was packed around pipes, boilers, and engine rooms below deck, but soldiers, airmen, and Marines were exposed too. Because mesothelioma can take decades to appear, many veterans are diagnosed long after their service ends.
Some roles carried more risk than others. Machinist’s mates, boiler technicians, pipefitters, hull maintenance workers, and Seabees worked closest to raw asbestos, and shipyard repair often stirred it into the air. Veterans who later worked in construction or industry may have been exposed a second time as civilians, which can matter when we sort out who is responsible.
What VA Benefits May Be Available
If your illness is connected to asbestos exposure during service, several kinds of help may be on the table. The main ones include:
- Disability compensation: tax-free monthly payments for a service-connected condition
- VA health care: treatment and monitoring through the VA system
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: monthly payments to eligible survivors if a veteran dies from the condition
- Special monthly compensation: added payments for veterans who need regular aid and attendance
Which of these fit depends on your diagnosis, your service history, and your family situation, so it is worth reviewing each one carefully.
What You Need to Prove
The VA generally looks for two things: a current diagnosis and a link between your illness and asbestos you were exposed to during service. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helpful evidence includes medical records that confirm the condition, service records that list your job or specialty, and a doctor’s statement connecting the two. Gathering these early makes the process smoother and stronger.
If a first claim is denied, an appeal is often possible, and many veterans succeed on a second try once the medical evidence is fully lined up. We can help you gather what the VA is looking for and keep the claim moving.
VA Benefits Are Not Your Only Option
A VA claim is separate from a claim against the companies that made the asbestos. You are not suing the military or the government. Those manufacturers, many of which set up bankruptcy trust funds, are the ones that answer for the products. In many cases, a veteran can pursue VA benefits, trust fund claims, and a lawsuit at the same time, and together they can add up to meaningful compensation.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers at Throneberry Law Group
If you served and now face mesothelioma, you have earned every option available to you. We can help line up your VA benefits with claims against the companies that made the asbestos, so nothing is left on the table.
Our firm handles veterans’ asbestos cases across the country, one relationship at a time, in English or Spanish. This work is personal for founder Michael Throneberry. Tell us about your service and your diagnosis through our free contact form.
