How Much Can Asbestos Exposure Experts Make?
Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used on Navy ships in pipe insulation, fireproofing, floor tiles and other construction materials. It was also used in boilers, engines for ships brakes for aircraft and vehicle vehicles and clutches.
These veterans may have developed mesothelioma, or other health problems. This includes Army personnel, Air Force personnel and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
The most at-risk group was Navy veterans due to the extensive use of asbestos in ship and shipyards. Asbestos was also found in those who were involved in the construction, repair or removal of naval vessels, as well as on ships.
Asbestos was a component used in the construction of Navy ships because it could be used to insulate against heat, water and fire. It was used throughout the engine rooms, hulls boiler rooms, as well as other mechanical areas on Navy ships. It also was used in plumbing fixtures as well as adhesives, industrial compounds and cabin insulation.
Because of these uses many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma as a result of working on or within ships. This includes those who were employed as laggers (insulators) on Navy ships, machinist's mates who fix engine components and machines that had asbestos packing and damage control workers who carry out firefighting and rescue tasks in the event of a hostile attack.
In addition, those who worked in the Coast Guard face exposure risks because the military's ships often included asbestos. The main reason for this was that asbestos was a cheap and fireproof material which insulated against heat and cold. It was used in many Navy ships, as well as a variety military vehicles, aircrafts and barracks.
Asbestos veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases may apply for compensation from the VA through their disability compensation system. To prove that the illness is due to military service, a written summary of exposure to asbestos must be submitted. This includes the location and time the veteran was exposed asbestos, as well as the specific roles they served in. It must also prove that at least 50 percent of the veteran's asbestos exposure was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a mineral of natural origin, has distinctive properties which make it valuable in military construction projects. It is fire resistant as well as heat, electricity, and chemical corrosion resistant, and extremely affordable to purchase and use. It was widely used in the military from 1940 to the 1990s. In the process, veterans from all branches of the military were exposed asbestos at high levels. Air Force veterans who served during this period are particularly susceptible to developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, constructed bases with asbestos-containing materials. The toxic substance was frequently used in boilers, pipes, and other insulation materials throughout bases. Airmen were exposed to asbestos when they resided in bases or visited them, such as mess halls, hospitals, and areas for shops. Asbestos is an extremely fine and scaly material, which means that the dust it creates can easily be transported from one location to the next. Mechanics, electricians, custodians and other employees may carry asbestos fibers from one part of the building to another on their clothes and in their hair.
Airmen who worked on aircraft, such as welders and mechanics, were at a high risk of exposure to asbestos. The harmful fibers could get into the lungs when inhaled and cause damage to the lung tissues and eventually develop into mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining in the chest cavity and lungs. It can be a cause of serious symptoms.
Asbestos victims should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to discuss their legal options. An attorney can help veterans or their families file a lawsuit against the manufacturers who made and sold the toxic products that caused their exposure to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek compensation from companies that put profits over safety.
Army
Asbest was likely employed by soldiers who served from World War II to the 1970s. These men and woman are at risk for developing aggressive forms mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses later in life.
Soldiers could have been exposed to asbestos in barracks and bases that contained asbestos. Asbestos, a non-flammable and durable building material was popular in the past. It was also extremely affordable.
The Army made use of asbestos to create a variety of products such as pipe insulation, fireproofing spray-on and flooring materials. The asbestos products were used to build and repair various types of equipment and vehicles, including tanks, ships and cars.
Asbestos-related illnesses can take a long time to develop. Many veterans were diagnosed years after their active service. In times of war, troops in combat zones were exposed to further asbestos exposure risks. These locations often had buildings built with asbestos that were bombed or destroyed and released the harmful fibers into the air. This type of exposure occurred at bases in the United States as well as ports and other locations overseas.
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service, have the right to file a VA disability claim. Compensation is based on the severity of the veteran's condition, and the amount of asbestos exposure he or she received as a military member. However the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide compensation to veterans suffering from mesothelioma in cases where it is not directly linked to their military service. The agency instead offers monthly compensation to veterans who meet the disability standards. The money can be used to pay for medical bills, living expenses and other expenses related to the disease.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos via bases, military ships vehicles, aircraft and bases. Marine vehicle mechanics, as well as those who worked on transport vehicles, such as the M60 Patton Tank, were most at risk of asbestos exposure. They were frequently exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets, seals and brake pads on vehicles. Asbestos fibers were released into the air when these materials deteriorated. Inhaling the fibers can cause asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s were also at risk of exposure. Asbestos was utilized in Navy ship parts such as incinerators, boilers and engines to protect them from fire and excessive heat. These parts usually were not ventilated, and asbestos fibers would circulate through the compartments of the ship. If the insulation degraded or wore out it would release fibers into the air. Veterans of the Air Force could also be exposed. Asbestos was used to protect military aircraft and was also found in engine parts and rotors as well as fuel systems, hydraulic systems and fuel systems.
In 1994 the Marine Corps implemented an OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program to protect workers from asbestos. Prior to 1994, asbestos was removed in hundreds of Marine bases and barracks and mechanical shops. This was usually done by untrained crews made up of enlisted men.
Marines exposed to asbestos could develop serious health conditions like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Veterans suffering from these diseases need to seek out specialized treatment at a VA hospital or top mesothelioma clinics. Wichita asbestos lawyers is crucial to understand that mesothelioma and the other asbestos-related illnesses have long period of latency. This means that symptoms usually do not appear until many decades after the initial exposure.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was employed throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and protect vessels from fire. The veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at greater risk of exposure to asbestos. The yard was home to more than 100 asbestos-contaminated shipbuilding and repair buildings, including barracks, a hangar and an engine shop. Asbestos was also found in the insulation, piping and other building materials on numerous Coast Guard ships. These veterans are at high risk for developing mesothelioma, asbestosis and other respiratory illnesses because of their prolonged exposure to asbestos-containing toxic materials.
Like the Navy and Air Force, Coast Guard veterans might have been exposed to regular exposure to asbestos on vessels and in shipyards. These men and women carried out search and rescue missions, protected the environment, and safeguarded U.S. coastlines and waterways. Due to the duties of the branch it's not surprising that asbestos was present in Coast Guard ships and at military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that help pay for medical care when they suffer from asbestos-related ailments. Due to the lengthy mesothelioma's latency it is crucial that patients be diagnosed as quickly as possible.
Veterans of the Army are at risk of mesothelioma due to their frequent exposure to military vehicles, aircraft and barracks. Asbestos was used in military equipment because of its low cost, fire resistance and insulation properties. When asbestos-based products were banned in the 1980s, hundreds of military zones remained with asbestos pipes insulation roofing tiles, cement sheets and floor tile. This "legacy asbestos" protected the risk for soldiers.
Veterans may be eligible for legal aid to pursue compensation from asbestos manufacturers, regardless of the branch of service they were in. While nothing can completely eliminate mesothelioma from a veteran, financial assistance could provide some stability for families that are in a crisis.