VA - accredited claims agent discusses mesothelioma claims and world-class VA care
Author: Nicole Godfrey
Every
year in the United States, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed
with malignant mesothelioma. Unfortunately, this cancer disproportionately
affects the men and women that have served our country. Some reports indicate
that about one third of mesothelioma patients are Veterans.
Many
Veterans have misconceptions about the VA and benefits eligibility. If you are
a Veteran and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma – free help is
available.
Retired
Naval officer, Lt. Cmdr. Carl Jewett helps Veterans and their loved ones
receive compensation from VA as a result of asbestos illnesses like
mesothelioma. Serving as a VA-accredited claims agent, he provides free
assistance in filing for VA benefits.
“Most
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are entitled to disability compensation or
pension benefits. Surviving spouses and dependents may also qualify for
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) or survivor pension from VA,” said
Jewett. “Veterans make up the largest group of people diagnosed with
mesothelioma because asbestos was so widely used in the military. As a Vet who
served your country, you are entitled to these benefits. They are your right.
These financial benefits are how we, as a nation, take care of the men and
women who helped to preserve the freedoms that we all enjoy in this country,
especially those who are disabled as a result of their military service.”
Jewett
is a retired Navy submariner who served in the military for just under 24
years, both enlisted and as an officer. Jewett understands that sometimes
obstacles and concerns may keep a Veteran from filing a claim. Sometimes the
greatest obstacles are misconceptions that many Veterans have about their
eligibility for VA benefits.
“I’ve worked with hundreds of Veterans who were floored to hear
that they were eligible for disability for their asbestos illness, even if it
has been decades since they were in the military. Too often they assume –
despite asbestos diseases taking 15 to 45-plus years to manifest after exposure
to asbestos – that they can’t apply for a service connected disability decades
after serving. But, the reality is that there is no amount of time that can
pass that would make a Veteran ineligible,” Jewett explained.
“With
the right help, it’s much easier to qualify and receive benefits than you
realize,” he acknowledged, “over the past decade, I’ve had the honor of helping
over 1,200 Veterans file, and get approved for asbestos-related
illnesses.”
Many
Veterans believe that they’re not entitled to compensation unless the military
was the sole source of asbestos exposure. This is a myth.
In
truth, the VA only requires that your illness is “at least as likely as not” to
have been caused by the military. This basically boils down to whether your
military exposure to asbestos was at least a 50 percent contributing factor in
your developing an asbestos illness. To accomplish this, Jewett assists
Veterans in detailing their exposures to asbestos and their entire work history
in a statement in support of the Veteran’s claim.
“The
VA acknowledges that asbestos is the only known cause of malignant pleural and
peritoneal mesothelioma. However, they require a detailed asbestos exposure
statement with each claim. I have helped thousands of Veterans convince the VA
that their military exposure is at least as likely as not to have caused their
asbestos disease. I streamline the claims process, assisting Vets in filling
out the forms, writing their exposure statement, and gathering all the other
supporting documentation for their claim. I do everything I can to make it easy
for Veterans to file,” said Jewett.
One
of the benefits of this compensation is that it’s tax-free. Furthermore,
Veterans with these asbestos illnesses are eligible even if they are already
retired and no longer working. Employment status and age do not affect
eligibility. Neither does the Veteran’s income.
“I
have talked to many vets who tell me that they aren’t eligible for VA benefits
because they applied once in the past, and were denied because they made too
much money. But this is only because they applied for non-service connected VA
Pension, which is a means tested benefit, therefore your income does play a
role. VA disability compensation is not means tested so their income is not a
factor,” Jewett explained.
A
large number of Veterans aren’t even aware that they have two of the nation’s
best mesothelioma specialists available to them. Both Dr. Abraham Lebenthal and
Dr. Robert Cameron offer mesothelioma treatment through their respective VA
hospitals.
Lebenthal
is a mesothelioma specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is known for
treating many Veterans through the West Roxbury VA Hospital in Boston.
Cameron
is the innovator behind the lung-saving procedure known as pleurectomy with
decortication (P/D). He is a specialist at the University of California Los
Angeles Medical Center also treats Veterans with mesothelioma at the West Los
Angeles VA Medical Center.
“Finding
a mesothelioma specialist for your diagnosis is the best way to extend your
survival time. All too often, patients are misinformed of their treatment
options by doctors who aren’t specialists. I am telling Veterans with
mesothelioma all the time that they should take anything that a
non-mesothelioma specialist says about their treatment options or prognosis,
with a grain of salt. You have a rare disease, you need a specialist.” stated
Jewett.
Veterans
with private health insurance should see one of the handful of mesothelioma
specialists around the country, including Lebenthal or Cameron. Veterans who
only have VA Health Care can either get their VA doctor to refer them to a
civilian doctor outside the VA system, or simply get a referral to Lebenthal or
Cameron, and be treated for free in Boston or Los Angeles.
Many
Veterans left the military and worked in civilian jobs that exposed them to
more asbestos than they had in the military. If you are a Veteran with
mesothelioma that isn’t service-related, you may still receive compensation in
the form of a non-service connected VA pension. Pension requires that the
Veteran served for at least 90 days, one of which was during a period of war,
and their income must be below the amount prescribed by law. Pension can help
both Veterans and their families by providing a tax-free monthly income to help
with financial burdens.
Both
Veterans and their surviving family members can apply for the VA’s pension
program. In circumstances where an individual is housebound or requires care
from another person, they may receive additional compensation.
Thank you to Carl for sharing this valuable information!
Carl Jewett
LCDR, US Navy, Retired
VA Accredited Claims Agent
(844) 838-6376 Office
(407) 792-1203 Mobile/Text
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