Editing Veterans Benefits (section)

== Key Facts: Essential Veteran Compensation Information ==

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! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Category
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Key Fact
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Details
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Automatic Rating
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | 100% VA Disability
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Mesothelioma diagnosis receives automatic maximum rating due to terminal nature
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Monthly Compensation
| style="padding:12px;" | $3,831.30/month
| style="padding:12px;" | Single veterans receive $45,975.60 annually in 2025
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Veterans Affected
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | 30% of U.S. Cases
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Military veterans represent nearly one-third of all mesothelioma diagnoses
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Navy Exposure
| style="padding:12px;" | Highest Risk Branch
| style="padding:12px;" | Naval personnel face highest exposure rates from shipboard asbestos materials
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | No-Offset Protection
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Federal Law Protected
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | 38 CFR § 17.106 prohibits reducing VA benefits based on settlements or trust funds
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Trust Fund Access
| style="padding:12px;" | $30+ Billion Available
| style="padding:12px;" | Over 60 active bankruptcy trusts hold funds for asbestos victims
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Combined Recovery
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | $2.4 Million+
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Total compensation when combining all benefit streams
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | DIC Benefits
| style="padding:12px;" | $1,653.07/month
| style="padding:12px;" | Base rate for surviving spouses plus dependent additions
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Expedited Processing
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | 45 Days Average
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Terminal illness claims processed faster than standard 94.8 days
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Healthcare Coverage
| style="padding:12px;" | Specialized Centers
| style="padding:12px;" | VA provides comprehensive treatment at mesothelioma centers nationwide
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Retroactive Pay
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Lump Sum Available
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Benefits calculated from diagnosis date or filing date
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Appeal Success
| style="padding:12px;" | 40.9% with Attorney
| style="padding:12px;" | Attorney representation increases success rate from 26.2%
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| style="padding:15px; color:#155724;" | '''✅ Good News for Veterans:''' Mesothelioma qualifies for automatic 100% disability rating. The VA recognizes that mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, making service connection straightforward for veterans who served on ships, in shipyards, or in other high-exposure military occupations.
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