Editing Military Exposure Overview (section)

== Key Facts: Military Asbestos Exposure ==

* '''Veteran Percentage:''' 30-33% of all U.S. mesothelioma cases occur in veterans (approximately 1,000 diagnoses annually)
* '''Risk Multiplier:''' Veterans are 3 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general population
* '''Peak Consumption:''' U.S. consumed over 700,000 tons of asbestos annually during Vietnam era, reaching 803,000 tons in 1973
* '''Navy Risk:''' Navy personnel have SMR of 2.15; high-risk ratings reach SMR of 6.47
* '''VA Benefits:''' 100% disability rating provides $3,831.30/month for single veterans, $4,044.91/month married
* '''Legal Compensation:''' Documented veteran verdicts range from $2.6 million to over $11 million
* '''Trust Funds:''' 60+ active trusts hold $30+ billion; average combined recovery $250,000-$500,000 per claimant
* '''Processing Time:''' VA claims average 146.4 days; trust fund claims typically 90-180 days

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| style="padding:15px; color:#155724;" | '''✓ Good News for Veterans:''' Mesothelioma qualifies for presumptive service connection with the VA. This means the VA assumes your cancer is service-related without requiring you to prove specific exposure incidents—[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/va-mesothelioma-claims/ significantly streamlining the claims process].
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