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If you are over 50 and have worked in the US Navy, US Army, US Marine Corps, or US Airforce, then you are likely to have been exposed to asbestos, a deadly mineral that causes asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other types of cancers. Most of the time, the workers were not aware of this exposure, thus, they did not have any protection masks or equipment while performing their jobs. Veterans who were working around asbestos and have now serious health problems have the right to be compensated. If you have experienced trouble breathing, difficulty in doing your daily work, or other symptoms that suggest a serious condition, you should contact a specialist to run a few tests. Here is what you need to do before contacting a law firm that will help you get compensation.
First of all, you need to go get tested by your VA doctor using the Pulmonary Function Test if you have difficulty breathing or experience coughing that will not stop during or after the easiest movements. Many veterans don't know that they are sick because they only have symptoms during the last stage of their cancer. Any individual who worked for the US Navy should go to the doctor and ask for additional tests that will bring confirmation of their condition. An X-ray is also helpful in revealing how much lung scarring you have.
Image 1: Pulmonary Function Test
Here are the steps to make in order to receive compensation:
- if you are eligible for a lung biopsy, you should do it because biopsy has the highest accuracy in diagnosing cancer.
- if the doctor tells you that you have pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, emphysema, or other non-cancerous diseases, you will need to ask for a second or third opinion outside the VA. We highly recommend you repeat the steps described earlier with the other two doctors to confirm your diagnosis. It is a known fact that 92 percent of the time, mesothelioma is misdiagnosed.
- another important step after receiving the confirmation of your asbestos exposure-related disease is to get legal advice and guidance; this way, you will know for sure if you are entitled to get monetary compensation which will help you pay the medical bills.
Image 2: Biopsy of the Lung
All legal pursuits for asbestos claims are through already established trust funds. You will never go to court, all you need to do is provide information to qualified lawyers. Our trusted source for legal help is Environmental Litigation Group; their main focus is to handle asbestos cases, and they file the claims themselves, which means you are receiving maximum amounts that you would not get with other third-party law firms. You need to keep in mind that the statute of limitation after your initial diagnosis is only 1 year for some states.