Veterans, asbestos, and VA benefits

Who may be eligible

VA says you may be eligible for disability compensation based on asbestos exposure if both of these are true:

• you have a health condition caused by exposure to asbestos, and
• you had contact with asbestos while serving in the military.

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment. VA notes that if you receive a disability rating, you may also be eligible for VA health care and other benefits.

How veterans were exposed

VA Public Health says veterans who served in mining, milling, shipyard work, insulation work, demolition of old buildings, carpentry and construction, and the manufacture and installation of products such as flooring and roofing may have been exposed. VA also notes that veterans who served in Iraq and nearby countries could have been exposed when older buildings were damaged.

NCI notes that the shipbuilding industry used asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. Navy veterans who worked in engine rooms, boiler rooms, and repair shops, and civilians who worked in naval shipyards, often describe this kind of exposure.

The evidence VA asks for

According to VA, you will need to submit:

1. Medical records that state your health condition.
2. Service records that list your job or specialty.
3. A doctor's statement that there is a connection between your asbestos contact during service and the health condition.

VA decides these claims case by case. A clear written history of ships, bases, and duties, plus statements from shipmates if you have them, can help.

Filing and the intent to file

You can file online, by mail, in person, or with help from a trained professional. VA explains that if you file a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file first. This can give you time to gather evidence while protecting an earlier possible start date for benefits (called the effective date). If you file online, VA says the effective date is set automatically when you start the form.

Free help from accredited representatives

VA's Office of General Counsel accredits three kinds of representatives: Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives, attorneys, and claims agents. VA says the help VSO representatives provide on a benefit claim is always free. VA also says that some accredited attorneys and claims agents help for free on initial claims, but most charge fees only after VA has decided the initial claim, for help with reviews and appeals. You can find an accredited representative on VA.gov.

Survivors

If a veteran has died from a service-connected condition, a surviving spouse, child, or parent may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly benefit. See VA's DIC page for eligibility. Families may also have legal claims against product manufacturers; see wrongful death claims.

VA health care

NCI notes that eligible veterans may receive health care at a VA medical center for an asbestos-related disease, for service-connected and nonservice-connected conditions. The VA Health Benefits line is 1-877-222-8387 (1-877-222-VETS).

VA benefits and legal claims are separate

A VA claim is a benefits claim. It is not a lawsuit against the military. Separately, many veterans have claims against private companies that made the asbestos products used on ships and bases, or against asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Those claims have their own deadlines. Our veteran claim help form can put you in touch with a participating law firm that can talk through both.