#pactact

👉 Qualifying service = presumed exposure 👉 Reproductive cancers like prostate, penile, urethral, and male breast cancer are also presumptive 👉 Secondary testicular conditions may also be connected

This recognition helps veterans access care and benefits more easily.

A Legacy of Service, Sacrifice, and Health Risks

Asbestos is still claiming the lives of many of our veterans nationwide, after it became of critical importance to the U.S. Armed Forces, especially during scarce wartime years. In the early 1920s, the U.S. Navy identified asbestos mineral fibers as the most cost-effective substance for insulation, mandated its use, and shipbuilding had to comply.

Asbestos use peaked during during WWII, when all military branches heavily applied the fibrous mineral, and it continued until the early 1970s when its carcinogenic nature came to light.

Asbestos minerals were preferred by all industries because of their heat resistance and durability, but they are highly hazardous to human health.

Asbestos is solely responsible for asbestosis, the scarring of lung tissues, and mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer attacking the lungs in the first place, and it largely contributes to lung cancer, the second most common cancer in the U.S.

Veterans who spent years in asbestos-contaminated environments now suffer the consequences of their exposure. Because asbestos lingers in the body between 20 to 50 years illnesses show any symptoms, more and more veterans have been diagnosed with asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer in the past decades. For instance, veterans comprise roughly 30 percent of Americans with mesothelioma.

Veterans are disproportionately affected in certain states

Veterans in certain states are more affected than others. Based on national data, the Environmental Working Group estimated that between 1999 and 2017, California was among the top five U.S. states with the most asbestos-related deaths, with 27,080 asbestos-caused deaths, one of the highest numbers in the country.

Additionally, California is among the top 10 states with the most military bases, and the Navy has a long history in the coastal state.Unsurprisingly, in 2023, California had one of the largest veteran populations nationwide, counting 1,487,000 veterans living in the state.

California is also home to more than 30 major military installations, among them important wartime naval bases, such as the now-closed Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the first Navy base on the West Coast. During WWII, it was one of the busiest naval shipyards in the world. Over 500 naval vessels were constructed, and thousands were overhauled at the Mare Island yard while it operated.

VA compensation for asbestos-caused disability

Our veteran population is declining due to age and malignant illnesses, many of which are caused by service-related toxic exposure. Asbestos adds to the long list of hazards negatively affecting veterans’ well-being. However, asbestos-linked conditions, especially mesothelioma, are very difficult to detect at their earlier stage. Unfortunately, timely discovery is the only option for finding a treatment and prolonging life expectancy when it comes to such deadly conditions.

By hiding the truth about the toxicity of asbestos, manufacturers have knowingly exposed millions of service members to the dangers of inhaling the fibers. Now, the VA encourages veterans to attend health check-ups and apply for health care. The only way to detect asbestos in the lungs and body is to go for periodical specialized screenings, such as chest X-rays or CT scans, even if veterans do not experience symptoms.

Having a disability, especially at an older age, is an enormous burden, not only mentally and physically, but financially, too. Those diagnosed with an asbestos-linked cancer can file claims with asbestos trust funds or apply for disability compensation from the VA. The disability compensation process with the VA has been more straightforward since 2022, with the passage of the PACT Act, which added asbestos-caused illnesses to the list of presumptive conditions.

More information is available at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/

If anyone questions why Schumer voted N this article has a good explanation about cloture.

Both of the senators from Indiana voted N but Todd Young is one who flipped his vote. Initially, Todd was among a minority who voted not to consider the legislation at all. Then, because he’s up for re-election this year, he voted Y back in June when it came up for vote. Low risk for him, it was clearly going to pass. He sent out a lot of self promotion about his vote back then.

Now? Not so much. This week Todd voted N to align with others who threw a hissy fit over very promising legislation to combat climate change, high medication prices, and provide more equitable taxing of large corporations. I don’t expect Todd will explain or clarify the record on his vote. He’s counting on people not paying attention or taking exception.

Ready or not, here I come!