Chronic exposure to asbestos cause serious medical disorders such as asbestosis and exposure even for short duration can lead to mesothelioma, sometime as late as 30 years after exposure.

Millions of Americans have served in the armed forces and most of them are at risk of exposure to asbestos, which is the only known and proven cause of mesothelioma. Armed forces veterans face health hazards such as exposure to asbestos, during their service to nation. The risk of development of mesothelioma remains for as long as 30 years after retiring from service.

Some studies show as much as 30% of the mesothelioma (mesothelioma and asbestosis) suffers in America are veterans; both of these are incurable disease. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer and asbestosis is a lung disease where the disease progress despite treatment and removal of causative factor.