Veterans and Asbestos Trust Claims

Each trust has its own criteria for proving exposure to its company's products. Some trusts list shipyards, ships or other military-related locations where their products were used, along with the years that apply. If a veteran served aboard a listed ship or worked at a listed shipyard during those years, that may satisfy part of the trust's exposure requirement. Other trusts require evidence about specific products or job duties instead. A careful review of every ship, base, shipyard period and job held during service helps identify which trusts may apply, including ones a veteran might never have thought of.

Service records, ship assignments, deck logs and job specialty codes all help show where and how a veteran was likely exposed. Statements from shipmates or fellow service members can describe the products they remember and the conditions where everyone worked. The same records used for a VA claim often support trust claims too, though trusts may need more product-specific detail, such as the kind of insulation or equipment involved. Organizing all of these records into a single dated timeline makes it much easier to prepare claims for several trusts accurately and to keep every statement consistent across them.

Trust payments generally do not reduce VA disability compensation, because they come from private funds rather than the government and are paid for a different reason. Most veterans with mesothelioma pursue both at the same time. An attorney typically handles the trust claims, while an accredited veterans service officer handles the VA claim. Letting each professional know about the other helps keep records and statements consistent across both processes. Some income-based VA programs, such as pension, may treat trust money differently, so confirm how any payment affects those benefits before the money arrives.

1. 1

   List every ship, shipyard and base from your service with dates.

2. 2

   Ask an attorney which trusts list your ships or shipyards as approved sites.

3. 3

   Share copies of military records with both your attorney and service officer.

4. 4

   Confirm how trust payments would affect any income-based VA benefit you receive.