Jonathan Nelson, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and VA-accredited attorney, has joined the Mesothelioma Veterans Center to help veterans and families impacted by this rare cancer.
Coming from a family of veterans, Jonathan joined the U.S. Marine Corps during law school and was soon deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Over the course of his military career, he served as a legal prosecutor, a criminal law instructor at the Naval Justice School, and the Staff Judge Advocate for the Second Marine Division.
Jonathan has spent over 20 years fighting for justice during his time with the Marines and across organizations like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“Even though I'm retired from active duty, I'm still looking to help others,” Jonathan says. “I joined the Mesothelioma Veterans Center to provide assistance to fellow service members who need help in obtaining the benefits that they deserve.”
Jonathan has answered common questions about veterans’ mesothelioma risks, available VA benefits, and other resources that can help following a diagnosis.
Get a Free Veterans Packet now to explore VA benefits, treatments, and compensation options if you or someone you love is facing mesothelioma.
Q: Were Veterans Exposed to Asbestos in the Military?
Yes, many veterans have been exposed to asbestos while serving their country. If you served, you may remember working around asbestos, but you most likely didn’t know it could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other illnesses later in life.
The military believed asbestos was a strong and safe material, so it was used in everything from Navy ships to Army bases and Air Force planes up through the 1980s. Service members from every branch risked exposure, with many coming into contact with asbestos in products like gaskets, boilers, and insulation almost every day.
My wife’s family was one of thousands affected by mesothelioma each year. Her grandfather proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was diagnosed with mesothelioma years later.
You shouldn’t blame yourself or the military after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Private companies knew asbestos could cause harm, yet they deliberately hid the truth, putting profits over the well-being of service members and civilians.
Q: How Do Asbestos-Related Diseases Affect Veterans?
If you were exposed to asbestos, you can develop a serious disease like mesothelioma decades later.
Most veterans with mesothelioma are diagnosed later in life, sometimes 50 years or more after they were first exposed. And while mesothelioma takes decades to develop, this cancer is aggressive and requires immediate medical care.
Having cancer can be incredibly stressful, which is why we encourage you to reach out. We’re here to help you and your family understand your health care options, receive any VA benefits you’re entitled to, and pursue money from asbestos companies to ease any financial worries.
Q: Can I Get VA Benefits for Asbestos Military Exposure?
Yes, you may qualify for many different types of VA benefits if you have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness. Benefits like monthly disability compensation, health insurance, and survivors' resources go a long way toward making life easier after a diagnosis.
As a VA-accredited attorney, I can help veterans like you understand which benefits you're entitled to and assist you in accessing them. I can also work to maximize your VA benefits if you've recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
VA usually considers mesothelioma a total disability, meaning you could get more monthly compensation and lower healthcare copays.
Q: What Other Resources Can Help Veterans Harmed by Asbestos Exposure in the Military?
Outside of VA benefits, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center and I can help veterans with mesothelioma find many other resources to help make living with this cancer easier.
For instance, our registered nurses on staff can walk you through available treatments, connect you with nearby cancer specialists, and locate support groups you can join. This takes a lot of the guesswork and stress off you and your family.
We can also review mesothelioma compensation options that you might qualify for. The two most common are lawsuits and trust fund claims, which allow you to seek payouts from companies that made asbestos materials while hiding the truth.
Q: How Hard Is It to File Asbestos Exposure Military Lawsuits?
Many veterans are wary about filing military asbestos exposure lawsuits, but the truth is that the process is easy, simple, and quick. Veterans who filed lawsuits with our help often start to get money in just a few months, with many receiving millions of dollars.
The legal process doesn’t affect your VA benefits, and the military isn’t sued. Rather, mesothelioma lawsuits are filed against companies that made and sold asbestos-containing materials despite knowing the risks.
While compensation from mesothelioma claims and lawsuits can’t restore your health, it can help protect your finances and support your family.
For example, our legal partners recently secured $34 million for a veteran who developed mesothelioma from brake pads. This money allowed him to afford treatment, pay off his home, and make sure his wife and children would be provided for.
Q: When Should Veterans Exposed to Asbestos in the Military Reach Out for Help?
I recommend that veterans get in touch with us as soon as possible if they’re facing mesothelioma. When it comes to cancer, every second counts.
But you don’t want to be dealing with the stress of trying to get VA benefits on top of navigating a cancer diagnosis. VA-accredited attorneys like myself can fight to get you the benefits you deserve, giving you and your family one less thing to worry about.
Our team at the Mesothelioma Veterans Center can also help you understand your treatment options and work to access compensation as quickly as possible if you're eligible. This means you can focus on what matters most: your health and the ones you love.
Connect With Jonathan and Our Veterans Advocates Now
Jonathan Nelson is proud to be part of the Mesothelioma Veterans Center team and assist veterans and their families dealing with this rare cancer.
“Veterans like you were harmed by mesothelioma through no fault of your own,” he says. “If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, I’m ready to review your options and support you through this difficult time.”
Reach out to us now for:
- Assistance with mesothelioma VA benefits
- Information on top doctors and treatments
- Legal help to pursue mesothelioma compensation
- More resources if you were exposed to asbestos in the military
Call (877) 450-8973 to request a consultation with Jonathan or get a Free Veterans Packet to explore all of the ways we can help you and your family.
