Mesothelioma Disability Claims

What Is a Mesothelioma VA Disability Claim?

The VA offers tax-free disability payouts to veterans facing mesothelioma after serving their country. It’s one of many VA benefits for veterans affected by service-connected illnesses.

Veterans with malignant mesothelioma may qualify for VA disability if they were exposed to asbestos, the only known cause of this cancer, while serving. All branches of the military used asbestos through the early 1980s before the risks were fully understood.

Mesothelioma VA Disability Claims Video Thumbnail

Video Summary: The VA considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, meaning married veterans typically receive over $4,000 a month tax free. Learn how Major Nelson can help you file.

We can help you file for mesothelioma disability benefits or increase your current VA disability rating to 100% so you can get the highest payouts possible in your case.

Download your VA Forms from us here for free, or have one of our VA-Accredited Attorneys help you fill them out.

VA Disability Ratings for Mesothelioma

The VA pays out different amounts of monthly compensation by assigning a disability rating for health problems that veterans face.

As of 2026, the VA almost always grants veterans with mesothelioma a 100% disability rating, meaning they can receive $4,158.17 a month if they’re married.

How much a veteran may get varies depending on how many dependents they have. View VA mesothelioma disability payouts in the chart below.

Number of Dependents	Monthly VA Disability Claim Payouts
Single veteran with mesothelioma	$3,938.58
Mesothelioma veteran with dependent child	$4,085.43
Mesothelioma veteran with dependent spouse	$4,158.17
Mesothelioma veteran with dependent spouse and child	$4,318.99

Can I Increase My VA Mesothelioma Disability Compensation?

Yes. If you were already getting VA disability compensation before your mesothelioma cancer diagnosis, we may be able to help increase your rating.

You can potentially get thousands of dollars more every month by increasing your VA disability rating. You deserve this extra compensation to cover any expenses that mesothelioma brings.

Contact us now for help boosting your VA rating to 100% if you have mesothelioma.

What Can Mesothelioma Disability Compensation Be Used For?

While costs of fighting cancer can add up quickly, you can use mesothelioma disability compensation for anything you need.

Mesothelioma disability claims payouts can pay for:

Mesothelioma treatments
Living expenses (mortgage, rent, grocery bills)
Travel expenses if you can’t get treatments nearby
Lost wages if you or a loved one can’t work anymore
In-home caregiver services

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center will work to get you the highest disability payouts possible. We can also help you explore other compensation options to cover expenses.

“At one point, we didn’t know where our next meal would come from. When the first check came in, I can remember how relieved I was.”

– Connie Bonnin, wife of U.S. Army veteran Alan Bonnin

Get our Free Veterans Packet now to find out about all the ways we may be able to assist you in filing for disability.

Steps to File for Mesothelioma Disability Compensation

Our team is committed to support U.S. veterans and their loved ones throughout the VA mesothelioma disability claims process. By working with us, accessing disability compensation is as easy and stress-free as possible.

Find out more about the steps to file for mesothelioma disability compensation below.

1. Put the VA on Notice

Inform the VA that you want to file a mesothelioma disability claim. This starts the clock on your disability claim. Once it’s approved, you may get several months’ worth of back pay through a lump-sum payment.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to get started with our help. Speaking with our team is free.

2. Gather Evidence

We can gather evidence to prove your asbestos exposure occurred during your service, as the VA requires your illness to be service-related.

Evidence for a mesothelioma disability claim includes:

A letter from a mesothelioma specialist linking a diagnosis to asbestos exposure
Medical records confirming your diagnosis
Military service documents showing you worked with asbestos products

Even if you don’t remember when, where, or how your military asbestos exposure occurred, we may still be able to help. Our partner asbestos law firm can determine your exposure history using their warehouse of evidence.

3. File the Mesothelioma Disability Claim & Receive Benefits

Fill out the main VA disability benefits form, VA Form 21-526EZ. Then, submit it along with all relevant evidence to a VA office online, by mail, or with the help of our VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyers.

The VA will review your claim and assign you a disability rating. If approved, you’ll start to get tax-free compensation from your mesothelioma disability claim.

It takes an average of 69 days for the VA to decide on a disability claim. However, our team may be able to help speed up the process.

Who Can File Mesothelioma Disability Claims?

U.S. veterans with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can file for disability benefits. Family members or loved ones may also be able to file on a veteran’s behalf.

If a veteran dies, surviving spouses and children can’t get disability benefits. However, they may qualify for monthly payments from VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC).

Ready to get started? See if you may be able to file VA mesothelioma and asbestos claims now with our help.

Start Your VA Mesothelioma Disability Claim Now

Mesothelioma disability claims can award $4,158.17 each month, helping you and your family afford any expenses related to this cancer.

It’s best to file your mesothelioma VA claim quickly after a diagnosis so you can start getting monthly benefits as soon as possible. The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to help you file right now.

With our team, you can:

File mesothelioma disability claims
Increase your disability rating to 100%
Pursue other VA benefits & financial compensation options

Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 now to find out more about your eligibility and see how we can assist with your mesothelioma disability claim.

Mesothelioma Disability Claims FAQs

What is the compensation for mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma VA disability claims pay out $3,938.58 per month for single veterans and $4,158.17 per month for married veterans. This compensation is tax-free.

Eligible veterans may also be able to file mesothelioma lawsuits worth $1 million or more on average. You won’t sue the military or government, and you can still file for veterans benefits while pursuing a legal claim.

Get a free case review now to find out if you may qualify for compensation from mesothelioma disability claims.

Does mesothelioma qualify for disability?

Yes. Veterans with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits if they were exposed to asbestos while serving.

The U.S. military used asbestos in U.S. Navy ships and shipyards, Air Force planes, Army bases, and more between the 1930s and 1980s. Private companies hid the health risks of asbestos products, putting service members at risk of asbestos-related illnesses 10-50 years later.

What happens if my mesothelioma disability claim is denied?

If your mesothelioma VA claim is rejected, we may be able to help you file an appeal to get the compensation you deserve.

There are three VA appeal options: a supplemental claim, a higher-level review, or a board appeal.

Certain appeal options may be more or less effective depending on the VA’s reason for rejecting a mesothelioma disability claim. We may be able to see which option will work best for you.

How much is a mesothelioma claim worth?

VA mesothelioma disability claims are worth $4,158.17 a month on average. More may also be available through asbestos trust fund claims and lawsuits, which typically award $1 million+.

Get a free case review now to see if we can help you or a veteran with mesothelioma you love file compensation claims.

Is VA disability the same as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?

A VA mesothelioma disability claim is different from SSDI. You may qualify to access SSDI — which essentially pays out your Social Security benefits early — after a mesothelioma diagnosis if you’re under the age of 65.

Our team can help you determine all of the disability compensation options that you qualify for after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

How do I check on my mesothelioma VA disability claim?

You can check the status of your VA mesothelioma disability claim online or by calling the VA. You can also use the same methods to check the status of a VA appeal.