Meet Major J.N. Nelson, USMC (Ret), Mesothelioma Veterans Advocate

My name is Jonathan Nelson. I am a VA-accredited attorney working with Mesothelioma Hope. I am here to help veterans. I wanted to provide for people who had served their country, protected their country, fought in wars on our behalf, and now are diagnosed with a cancer that, for many of them, was caused by their active-duty service itself. I want to make sure that they have the opportunity to get the benefits they need and are entitled to, and to ensure their families are provided for in the future.

I was in the United States Marine Corps for 15 years. I served as a judge advocate and worked as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and instructor at the Naval Justice School. I also handled appellate government law and served as the staff judge advocate for the Second Marine Division in North Carolina for a couple of years.

When a veteran has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, they need to know there’s support for them. We are able to provide medical information, connect them with good doctors and hospitals, and offer mental and spiritual support as well. Companies that have gone bankrupt due to asbestos litigation have paid into trust funds—money set aside for people diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

There’s currently over $30 billion available for people who have mesothelioma. This means that if you’ve been diagnosed, you may be able to file a claim for some of that money. We also help veterans file for VA disability benefits and guide them on the right path to make sure their families are cared for, even when they’re no longer able to do so themselves.

I like to help veterans who have fought for our country and served our country. I have a great deal of respect for those individuals, and I’m here to make sure they get the help and benefits they deserve.