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Based on the details provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are currently 25 million people who have service the Armed Forces in the United States. Out of these, hundreds of thousands of these living veterans had their share of asbestos exposure during their military service. Veterans account for an estimated 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the country. The extent of treatment for mesothelioma varies depending on their condition. They can apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits for asbestos-related diseases.Veterans Care for Mesothelioma Veterans who are at highest risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer are those who served between 1940s and 1970s. There was a concentration of asbestos exposure during this period as asbestos containing products was not banned in the US until 1975. They were extensively used in the insulation of sleeping quarters, floorings, engines, and boiler rooms. Owing the usage of asbestos products in military, many of them exposed to the fibers and developed the cancer which was diagnosed at their old age.Veterans and their dependents are offered adequate health care through the Veterans Affairs Department. They can qualify for either benefits or pension, but not both. If they were part of the United States military branch, they will be eligible for benefits provided by the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Moreover, all their claims are normally processed at the VA.

Benefits for Veterans with Mesothelioma.

Veteran Affairs help veterans get necessary benefits for mesothelioma like Disability Compensation and VA Health Care. Apart from this, their surviving spouses are also eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) they died due to mesothelioma.
Disability Compensation is a monthly benefit offered to the veteran victims depending on their disability level which could be anywhere between 0% -100%. Moreover, as mesothelioma cancer is considered as 100% disabling, they will receive a monthly benefit which starts at $2,673 per month. This amount would be increased based on the number of people who are dependent on the victim. They can qualify for this compensation if they have been discharged from the military services under any situation other than dishonorable. They need to provide adequate information that they got mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure when they were servicing in the military.

Health Care benefits can be provided to veterans that categorize them based on various "priorities". For those with mesothelioma, enrollment to this benefit will be based on whether the cancer is considered "service related" by the VA. Even if they do not qualify "service connected", they can still be part of their income level. The VA uses two different income limits: a National Income Threshold and a Geographical-Adjusted Income Threshold.Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is offered to the surviving spouse of the victim with a monthly benefit of $1154. This is offered provided the victim passed away from a "service-connected" disability. Also it is possible if the victim was getting Disability Compensation from the VA for mesothelioma cancer at the time of his death.

Therefore to get all the benefits and care for mesothelioma, the veterans should prove that they were exposed to asbestos while they were in the military.