VA Benefits Attorney in Houston

Toxic Exposure Disability Claims

While serving in the military, Veterans may have been exposed to a wide range of chemical, physical, and environmental hazards. However, as active-duty military members, the government owes U.S. Veterans for any exposures to potentially dangerous toxic materials. If you or a loved one was exposed to toxic materials during active-duty, you may be entitled to disability compensation for any injuries or illnesses that resulted.

As such, the Department of Veterans Affairs must be proactive when dealing with VA disability claims; unfortunately, the entire VA claims process can be excruciatingly slow and difficult, keeping our Vets away from the compensation that they need and deserve. If you were exposed to toxic materials while in active-duty with the U.S. military, VA disability benefits attorney William Herren can help with your case.

Types of Toxic Exposures and Military Service

Depending on the Veteran’s role in the military, whether he/she was with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and so forth, different types of toxic exposure may have occurred. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common toxic exposures that occur throughout the military. Cases that meets a specific criteria—the injuries, illnesses, or death resulted from a known toxic exposure—may result in a successful VA disability claim.

• Asbestos. Many military occupational specialities have the potential to expose military members to asbestos. This toxic material can be found in mining, milling, shipyard work, insulation work, demolition, carpentry, construction, or manufacturing, especially when older buildings are involved. Furthermore, U.S. military members in Iraq may have been exposed to asbestos when older buildings were damaged.
• Camp Lejeune Contaminated Drinking Water. From at least 1957 to 1985, the water systems at Marine Corps Base in Lejeune, NC, were contaminated with chemical compounds. There is suggestive evidence showing a connection between this contamination and several conditions.
• Environmental Hazards. Some common environmental hazards at military installations include burn pits, particulate matter, chemical fires, and waste disposal pollution.
• Ionizing Radiation. Military members who participated in nuclear testing may have been exposed to ionizing radiation, which has been associated with some severe conditions.
• Mustard Gas. Due to experiments conducted by the Department of Defense, there are approximately 4,500 Servicemembers who were exposed to mustard gas.
• Project 112/SHAD. Chemical tests defending against biological and chemical weapons exposed approximately 6,000 Service members to various chemical compounds from 1962 to 1974 in Fort Douglas, Utah. Some of the chemicals lead to illness and death among some participants.
• Radiogenic Risk Activities. Some activities in the military inadvertently exposed Veterans to radiation, such as being a POW in Japan or participating in nuclear testing.

There are many other situations that would meet the definition for toxic exposure, and it’s essential to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable VA disability benefits attorney to determine whether or not you have a case.

Call Herren Law in Houston, TX, Today

At Herren Law, we boast decades of experience helping Veterans with disability claims, and we can help you to. If you believe that you were exposed to toxic materials while in active duty, and that exposure led to injury or illness, then you may have a case. Houston attorney William Herren works on a contingency basis, meaning that you don’t pay anything unless you win your case. To speak with our law office about your possible case, call us today at (800) 529-7707.