Mesothelioma and the Army Compensation Program
Mesothelioma can be a painful condition that affects many veterans of the United States Army. These service members may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds as well as lawsuits.
Asbestos was found in vehicles and barracks, as well as aircraft. They may also have been exposed to the asbestos while working in Navy shipyards.
Symptoms
There are a myriad of symptoms mesothelioma patients might be afflicted with. Patients should keep track of symptoms and notify their physicians if they notice any changes.
Most mesothelioma patients suffer from pain and fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen. Some patients also have a cough, fatigue and loss of appetite. average compensation for mesothelioma claim of these symptoms can be misinterpreted as symptoms of other diseases. Thus, some veterans may not be able to recognize them initially. Some symptoms may appear later depending on the level of asbestos exposure. Symptoms can appear more quickly when asbestos exposure is high. Mesothelioma symptoms can change as the disease progresses and spreads to other areas of the body, a process referred as metastasis.
Asbestos is a natural mineral. It is strong, heat-resistant and used in many construction materials and military vehicles. Asbestos fibers can be airborne, and inhalation is the principal method for mesothelioma exposure. Mesothelioma as well as peritoneal mesothelio pleural mesothelioma are caused by inhaling or ingestion of these microscopic asbestos particles. Asbestos exposure has been linked to a wide range of medical ailments, including lung cancer.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are mild to severe, and it can affect the abdomen and lungs as well as the heart and joints. The majority of asbestos-related illnesses take between 10 and fifty years to develop.
Asbest was employed in many ways by veterans of the Army. They could have worked in factories that manufactured asbestos-containing equipment, or on Navy ships, where asbestos was extensively employed. Veterans who worked on Navy vessels in the fields of milling, piping, and shipyard work, as well insulation, demolition and old buildings, carpentry, and insulation are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma.
Most patients with pleural mesothelioma are afflicted with chest pain and breathing difficulties in the beginning stages. They may also have a pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of fluid inside the pleura that covers the lungs and chest. Pleural effusions can limit the lungs' ability to expand when breathing. Patients with mesothelioma often suffer from pleural thickening and inflammation.
As mesothelioma advances, affected patients will notice that their symptoms get worse. Patients may experience fatigue, fever or decrease in appetite. Some mesothelioma sufferers develop blood clots which can be harmful to their health. Dysphagia, a condition, can cause patients to experience difficulty swallowing.
Diagnosis
Since asbestos is a major mesothelioma causing agent, a diagnosis will most likely include a biopsy and certain tests. Asbestos patients should have a mesothelioma specialist carry out the test to avoid a misdiagnosis. Incorrect diagnosis can prevent patients from getting the right treatment and may give the disease more time to grow.
If a doctor suspects mesothelioma they'll request an imaging test to look for any tumors in the abdomen or chest. It could be a CT scan or MRI. The next step is to collect samples of fluid or tissue to be examined under microscope. A biopsy is the most reliable method of confirming mesothelioma diagnoses.
If the doctor has a sample to look at, they will determine whether it is peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma. This can aid in determining the most appropriate treatment for the patient. The biopsy can also assist doctors to determine the type of mesothelioma cells, which could affect the prognosis of the patient.
The most prevalent type of mesothelioma is epithelioid. It develops more slowly than other cancer cells, making it more easy for doctors to treat. This type can also occur in the lungs, but is usually less severe than pleural mesothelioma.
A specialist will decide what the most effective treatment options are for the patient after the results of the biopsy have been received. The doctor will also determine the prognosis, determined by the mesothelioma type and the speed at which it is growing.
Veterans with mesothelioma who have a military history of asbestos exposure may be qualified for compensation. Contact a VA-accredited claims representative to find out if you can be eligible for benefits if were exposed to asbestos while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Treatment
The type of malignant mesothelioma that a patient has and its stage will determine the treatment options. Patients with pleural mesothelioma typically undergo surgery to relieve breathlessness that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. The surgeon might employ VATS (video-assisted surgical thoracoscopic procedure) or open surgery to eliminate part of the wall of the chest and lung. A tube may be put into the chest cavity to drain the fluid around lung several times a week.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is treated similarly to pleural mesothelioma, however with less extensive surgery. The diaphragm and peritoneum as well as other abdominal parts can be removed during surgery. After surgery, patients with mesothelioma can receive radiation and chemotherapy to kill any cancerous cells left.
Certain patients with mesothelioma are not eligible for surgery, even though their doctors believe that they could be treated with surgery. In these situations doctors may recommend palliative treatments to ease symptoms such as fatigue and sleeplessness.
After treatment, mesothelioma could recur. Cancer may return to the same place where it began or spread to a different part of the body. After recurrence, it may be more difficult to treat mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is renowned for its strength and resistance to heat. It was utilized in a variety of Army-related construction projects, including insulation and on vehicles. Asbestos fibers can be airborne when disturbed and could cause serious health complications when inhaled.
Veterans can receive financial aid to cover treatment when the VA recognizes that mesothelioma is a disease related to service. A mesothelioma attorney can assist veterans to receive the disability benefits that they are entitled to.
Financial Assistance
The cost of mesothelioma treatment can be costly. However veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma can receive financial assistance. Compensation programs for veterans include disability benefits as well as mesothelioma lawsuit settlements. These compensation programs can help veterans pay their medical costs and daily living expenses.
Asbestos lawyers can aid veterans obtain the compensation they deserve for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. An experienced lawyer can help the veteran make a mesothelioma claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or file a personal injury orwrongful death lawsuit against the companies who are responsible for their asbestos exposure.
In the majority of cases, mesothelioma victims and their families are eligible for compensation from the VA since mesothelioma is an illness that is connected to service. The kind of asbestos exposure determines eligibility. Asbestos exposure is more likely to be experienced by Navy veterans who have worked in shipyards rather than Army veterans.
The VA will pay a veteran a monthly disability benefit when mesothelioma has been confirmed. The amount of the compensation depends on the degree of the impairment resulting from mesothelioma. Additionally, the VA offers compensation for funeral and burial costs for those who die due to mesothelioma.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, can also seek compensation through asbestos trust funds and the companies responsible for asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma lawsuit could result in an enormous settlement for the victims and their families.
Many nonprofit organizations provide grants to mesothelioma patients to cover accommodation, travel and other costs related to their cancer treatment. Mesothelioma patients and their surviving family members are eligible for these grants to help cover medical expenses and lessen financial stress.
Mesothelioma patients and their families face a variety of financial obstacles due to costly mesothelioma treatments. Compensation from various sources can help them pay for these expenses. These include payments from the VA and mesothelioma trust fund, and personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit settlements against the companies that are responsible for their asbestos exposure. Lawyers can aid a mesothelioma patient and their family members in seeking compensation to cover their medical costs.