In the early 20th century, the U.S. military used large quantities of asbestos products due to their durability, low cost and heat resistance and fireproof capabilities until the products were eventually phased out in the 1970s. However, this has put many U.S. veterans at high risk of later developing an asbestos disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Sadly, countless brave men and women in the armed services have been exposed to dangerous asbestos products through their military service. Our law firm helps veterans like you file a VA claim to receive compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis. In some cases, we can also file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the products with asbestos.
We Sue the Companies Who Made Asbestos-Containing Products, Not the Government
Yet, it’s important to understand that our lawyers do not sue the military. We sue the asbestos companies that sold the products to the military because it was the responsibility of these companies to disclose the harmful effects of their products. Instead, these companies chose to hide the truth about their products for fear of losing profits.
If you or your family member is a veteran and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we want to help. Call us at (866) 926-1625 or complete our contact form.
What Branches of the Military were Exposed to Asbestos?
Members of the military were exposed to asbestos in all branches of the military before it was heavily restricted in the 1970s. These branches include:
- Navy in shipyards, boiler rooms, and submarines
- Army in building barracks, shipyards, demolition, and construction
- Marine Corps in armored vehicles, barracks, ships, and aircraft
- Coast Guard exposure inside ships, on ship decks, and boiler rooms
- Air Force in air force bases, airplanes, jets, and aircraft maintenance
Top Mesothelioma Lawyers for VA Claims
Asbestos was frequently used for decades in shipyards and in the production of Navy vessels. Because of this, a wide variety of people were affected within the Navy, even those involved in the construction, overhaul or repair of the ships were likely exposed to asbestos. Navy veterans who served aboard ships run a particularly high risk of being exposed to asbestos on Navy ships, especially when working near the ship’s engine room. It’s important to remember that after a diagnosis of mesothelioma veterans can seek legal counsel to help negotiate compensation for asbestos exposure while serving.
Navy veterans have been the most affected branch of the military, with many veterans being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases. Our mesothelioma lawyers are proud to have represented numerous Navy veterans, including Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Vietnam War.
Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Army
During much of the 20th century, many U.S. veterans were exposed to high levels of asbestos. The material has been found in more than 30 U.S Army installations and many troops were continually exposed to asbestos. Although the Army discontinued the use of asbestos in the construction of new barrack installations in the late 70s, toxic fibers were still present in older installations.
If you served in the U.S Army and participated in duties such as mining, milling, pipefitting, insulation work, shipyard work, carpentry, demolition of old building and construction, flooring and roofing installation, you may have been exposed to harmful asbestos fibers.
Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Marines
Veterans of the U.S Marine Corps have also been exposed to asbestos through airplanes, ships and armored vehicles that were used to transport soldiers during their service. Many Marines have also spent long periods of time on ships that used asbestos-containing products in the ships’ construction.
The Marines also share many facilities with the Navy as part of their service to our country. Because of this, Marines have been greatly affected by asbestos, resulting in diagnoses of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
Marine veterans may have also been exposed to asbestos through the military installations, or barracks, often used for food halls, housing and workstations. Asbestos has been found in flooring tiles, roofing and ceiling materials, and insulation. Although the use of asbestos was banned by the Military in the mid-1970s, many asbestos-containing barracks, vehicles and ships remained in use for years.
Asbestos Exposure in the U.S. Air Force
Like other branches of the Military, Air Force veterans are also at risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases due to exposure during their service. Because of its durability, low cost and heat resistance, asbestos products were commonly used in the construction of Air Force bases, inside planes and in radar stations.
In 2012, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a study on Air Force facilities that revealed the presence of asbestos in vinyl flooring, floor tile, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, stucco, drywall and asbestos cement in wall insulation. Asbestos was also heavily used in the construction of Air Force planes and has been discovered in cockpit heating systems, brakes, torque valves, heat shields for engines, gaskets, insulation and electrical wiring.
Contact a Lawyer for Help Filing an Asbestos VA Claim
Call the lawyers at Baron & Budd today at (866) 926-1625 to get help filing a VA claim for asbestos exposure in the military. Let us hold the companies that manufactured products containing asbestos accountable for exposing you to the toxic substance while serving in the military.
We Travel to You (or meet virtually)
Call us and we will personally come to you for a free consultation… anywhere in Louisiana or the country.
Don’t miss this opportunity to discuss your potential case and the compensation you and your family may be owed. If you feel more comfortable doing a virtual meeting, we can do that too.
Why talk to us? We have the proof!
See Some of Our Significant & Recent Mesothelioma Victories in Louisiana
Here’s why we are ranked among the best mesothelioma law firms in the nation. This is just a partial list of our recent mesothelioma case results in Louisiana. We’ve obtained many more multi-million-dollar confidential settlements that provide security for the future for the families of hard-working people in Louisiana.
- $36.7 million jury award for our client who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working for many years as a Local 60 pipefitter and welder. Our trial lawyers were able to obtain the largest asbestos verdict for a single client in Louisiana history.
- $17.2 million jury award for our client and his family. Our Client suffered and died from a severe non-malignant asbestos-related disease called asbestosis. Our attorneys were able to obtain the largest asbestos verdict for a single client in Louisiana history.
- Over $9 million in total settlements for our Client who was diagnosed and suffered from epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma. Our Client was exposed to asbestos from her father’s dirty work clothes when she was a child. Her father worked for less than 6 months at petrochemical facilities along the Mississippi River. Our attorneys were able to obtain the above settlement for her exposure to asbestos from her father’s work clothes.
- $8 million in total settlements for our Client, a Local 53 Insulator, diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while working in oil refineries and chemical plants throughout Louisiana. Years earlier, he had been diagnosed with a non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
- Over $7 million in total settlements for a pipefitter/welder who worked at many of the petrochemical plants along the Mississippi River around Baton Rouge. Our Client suffered from biphasic pleural mesothelioma and our attorneys were able to obtain settlements that provided peace of mind for him for his family.
- Over $7 million for a boilermaker who worked at many of the petrochemical facilities along the Mississippi River between New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Our Client suffered from pleural mesothelioma and our attorneys were able to obtain settlements totaling the amount above for him and his family.
- Over $6 million in total settlements for a lifelong union boilermaker who worked at shipyards and petrochemical plants throughout Louisiana. Our Client suffered from pleural mesothelioma. Our mesothelioma lawyers were honored to have been a part of this fight against asbestos companies and the disease they caused, mesothelioma.
- Over $6 million in total settlements for a longshoreman and cargo handler on the Mississippi River who loaded and unloaded asbestos cargo on ships, wharves and warehouses in the Port of New Orleans. Our Client suffered from pleural mesothelioma. Our mesothelioma lawyers were honored to have been a part of this fight against asbestos companies and the disease they caused, mesothelioma.
- $5.57 million jury award for our Client and his family. Our Client suffered from epithelioid pleural mesothelioma and our attorneys were able to obtain this verdict against a shipyard for only 12 days of work at the shipyard in 1973.
- Over $5 million in total settlements for our Client who was exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 1960s when he worked as an operator and laborer at a Baton Rouge chemical plant. Our Client suffered from pleural mesothelioma and our attorneys were able to obtain settlements for his family.
- Over $4 million in total settlements for a union pipefitter and welder who was exposed to asbestos at aluminum plants, chemical plants, oil refineries and power plants in Southeast Louisiana. Our client suffered from epithelioid pleural mesothelioma and our mesothelioma lawyers were honored to have fought against the companies that were responsible for his mesothelioma.
Baron & Budd’s Mesothelioma Litigation in Louisiana
Baron & Budd mesothelioma attorney and Louisiana native, Burton LeBlanc, successfully testified against state bill HB 447, which would have given asbestos bankruptcy trusts the ability to further delay compensation. We have achieved some of the largest verdicts of their kind for Louisiana families struggling with mesothelioma and for those who have lost loved ones to the illness.
Why Choose Baron & Budd Over Other Law Firms? Because results matter!
Hire the firm whose experience sets the standards. Our firm has led the fight for hard-working Louisiana families for over forty years. When you hire Baron & Budd, you have our dedicated team of mesothelioma litigators, researchers, medical experts, and private investigators fighting for you.
- Our law firm pioneered mesothelioma lawsuit claims starting in the 1970’s, representing some of the first mesothelioma victims.
- Our attorneys understand the Louisiana court system.
- We continue fighting daily to secure mesothelioma compensation for victims like you because we care.
- When our attorneys walk into the courtroom, the attorneys representing the asbestos companies know we can take the fight to the largest companies in the world.