To receive benefits based on asbestos exposure, veterans must meet specific criteria.
Unlike VA pensions, which are income-dependent, VA disability benefits and disability compensation are not influenced by age or household income.
If the VA determines your mesothelioma diagnosis is service-connected, you are eligible for 100% disability compensation regardless of your income level.
Veterans with Mesothelioma: Eligibility for VA Benefits
Veterans seeking mesothelioma veterans benefits typically need to meet the following conditions:
- Exposure History: You must provide a written asbestos exposure summary and other evidence showing that at least 50% of your lifetime asbestos exposure occurred during your military service.
- Medical Diagnosis: A confirmed diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness, supported by medical records from a hospital or qualified doctor.
- Veteran Status: Proof of honorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. military or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (formerly the Environmental Science Services Administration).
If you file a traditional VA claim, the VA is responsible for collecting the necessary paperwork.
However, this process can take around eight months.
To expedite the decision, veterans can submit all required documentation upfront as part of a fully developed claim, which typically takes about four months to process.
Recognized Asbestos-Related Conditions
The VA provides benefits for any disease linked to military asbestos exposure.
While mesothelioma is rated as 100% disabling, other asbestos-related conditions, such as asbestosis, may be rated between 10% and 100% based on severity.
For diseases such as lung cancer or gastrointestinal cancers, veterans must present medical documentation that establishes asbestos exposure as a likely primary cause over other factors like smoking or hereditary conditions.
The following list includes asbestos-related diseases recognized by the VA:
- Asbestosis
- Bronchus cancer
- Gastrointestinal tract cancer
- Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis
- Larynx cancer
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal)
- Pharynx cancer
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural plaques
- Urogenital cancers (excluding prostate)
The VA acknowledges that these conditions can affect veterans from all branches of service and across different periods of military service.
However, the disability claims process may vary depending on the specific condition and supporting evidence required.