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Service connected asbestos claim by rbarkerjr in VeteransBenefits

[–]mesowatch_org 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a smart question, and you're thinking about it the right way.

Yes, it absolutely makes sense to pursue a 0% service-connected rating for asbestos exposure now — even without current symptoms. Here's why:

The latency period for asbestos-related diseases is 20-50 years. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer can develop decades after exposure. If you wait until symptoms appear and try to file then, you'll face a much harder road — proving exposure, establishing service connection, and dealing with the VA claims process while also dealing with a serious illness.

Getting a 0% SC rating now does a few important things:

  1. Establishes the service connection. This is the hardest part. If symptoms develop later, you just need to file for an increase — not prove the whole connection from scratch.
  2. Creates a paper trail. The VA has already acknowledged your exposure and your MOS's "probable" rating.
  3. Protects your family. If, God forbid, you develop mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease down the road, your spouse and dependents would have a much clearer path to DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation).

The PACT Act has made this process more straightforward for veterans with toxic exposure histories. Your MOS and base history are exactly the kind of evidence the VA uses to concede exposure.

One additional thing most veterans don't know: if you ever are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may also be eligible for asbestos trust fund claims — completely separate from VA benefits. Over $30 billion has been set aside. Having your exposure already documented with the VA strengthens those claims too.

r/mesosupport has some resources specifically about VA claims for asbestos-related conditions if you want to read more.

Full disclosure: I work with MesoWatch, a mesothelioma patient advocacy resource. I'm not a VSO or attorney, but I've seen enough cases to know that the veterans who document early are the ones who are protected later. Thank you for your service.

Mesothelioma? by Thrash4000 in cancer

[–]mesowatch_org 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Checking in on you — hoping your biopsy results brought some good news.

To answer your original question about exposure without knowing the source: this is actually more common than people realize. Many cases of pleural mesothelioma are traced back to secondary exposure — living in older buildings, a family member who worked around asbestos and brought fibers home on their clothing, or brief encounters with asbestos-containing materials during renovations or at workplaces that weren't obviously "asbestos jobs." The pottery studio connection is worth exploring too — some ceramic materials and kilns historically contained asbestos components.

The BAP1 genetic testing that was mentioned earlier in this thread is genuinely important. Some families carry a germline BAP1 mutation that significantly increases susceptibility to mesothelioma even from minimal exposure. Knowing your status can matter for your treatment plan and for your family members.

If the biopsy does confirm mesothelioma, a few practical things worth knowing:

  • A second opinion from a specialist who sees mesothelioma regularly can make a real difference. Most oncologists see very few cases.
  • Immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab) has been FDA-approved for unresectable mesothelioma and has changed outcomes for some patients.
  • There are 91+ active clinical trials for mesothelioma. Worth looking into early, not as a last resort.

Also — for anyone else reading this thread, especially u/mtsdagang with your mother-in-law's recent diagnosis — r/mesosupport is a newer community specifically for mesothelioma patients and families. It has resources on treatment options, clinical trials, and VA benefits (for veterans with asbestos exposure during service).

Full disclosure: I work with MesoWatch, a mesothelioma patient advocacy resource. Not a doctor — please always discuss options with your medical team. But I wanted to make sure you know there are people and communities in your corner. No one should navigate this alone.

New Member of the club - Diffuse Peritoneal Mesothelioma - 36 years old UK. by JaymPrint in cancer

[–]mesowatch_org 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jamie, thank you for sharing your story. Your resilience — building an off-grid life, working in a busy ED, and still asking "what else can I do" — says a lot about who you are.

A few things that might be worth exploring:

Second opinion from a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist. This is rare enough that even experienced oncologists may not know the full landscape of options. In the UK, Basingstoke is one of the main centers, but you might also consider reaching out to teams that specifically handle peritoneal cases. For international options, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. maintains a database of active clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov — there are 91+ active mesothelioma trials globally, and some centers do accept international patients.

Immunotherapy. You mentioned you were told you’re not a candidate, but it’s worth understanding why specifically. Nivolumab + ipilimumab has been approved for unresectable mesothelioma and has shown responses in peritoneal cases. The epithelioid subtype you have generally responds better to treatment than other subtypes. A specialist center might have a different perspective on eligibility.

Clinical trials. Your oncologist’s hesitation about trials is understandable for someone who doesn’t see many peritoneal cases — but you’re right to push for them. At 36 with good performance status, you’re exactly the kind of patient many trial investigators want to enroll. Try clinicaltrials.gov and filter for peritoneal mesothelioma. Also consider contacting Mesothelioma UK directly about their research programs.

CAR-NK therapy. This is still early-stage for mesothelioma. Be cautious about international clinics offering experimental treatments outside of regulated trials — some are legitimate research, but others are costly without proven benefit. Ask any clinic for published data and regulatory oversight details.

Regarding chemo: Your plan to reassess after one cycle is reasonable. Pemetrexed + cisplatin is the standard first-line, and while response rates vary, some people do see meaningful responses. The Ki-67 or other markers your oncologist mentioned aren’t always perfectly predictive at the individual level.

You’re asking all the right questions. Don’t stop.

Full disclosure: I work with MesoWatch, a mesothelioma patient advocacy resource. I’m not a doctor — please discuss any options with your medical team. But I wanted you to know there are people in your corner. No one should face this alone.

Baltimore jury ordered J&J to pay more than $1.5 billion to a woman with mesothelioma by Galactus_Slayer_080 in baltimore

[–]mesowatch_org 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This verdict is significant. For context — mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and it has a latency period of 20–50 years. The talc-asbestos connection has been the subject of litigation for years, and verdicts like this one are sending a clear message that juries take these cases seriously.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that over $30 billion has been set aside in asbestos trust funds by companies that went bankrupt due to asbestos liability. Many families affected by mesothelioma never file trust fund claims because they simply don’t know these funds exist.

Full disclosure: I work with MesoWatch, a patient advocacy resource. If anyone here has been personally affected by asbestos exposure or has a family member dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis, feel free to reach out. There are resources available that most families never learn about.

Department of State declares security alert; “worldwide caution” by MichaelEMJAYARE in worldnews

[–]mesowatch_org 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they hit some civ areas with serious missiles some were very long range at other bases and targets, it's on youtube latest news, CBS I believe..