Assitance with VA Claims & Other Potential Benefits

Asbestos.com's Veterans Assistance Department can help you with questions about veterans and asbestos-related illnesses or about potential benefits. Fill out the form below for more information.

Carl Jewett - Senior Veterans Benefit Counselor

Carl Jewett is a retired LCDR (O-4) in the US Navy and the Executive Director of the Veterans Assistance Network; a company devoted to assisting veterans negotiate the often confusing VA benefits application process. He also serves as the Senior Veterans Benefits Counselor for the Mesothelioma Center, assisting veteran clients in obtaining the maximum benefits for which they are entitled.

In 1985, Mr. Jewett enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after his initial training in electronics, Mr. Jewett received his follow on training in Nuclear Power operations in Orlando, FL. He then served in the Reactor Controls Division on three nuclear fast-attack submarines.

In 1997, he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and attended the University of Maryland, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics. He was commissioned in May 1997 and returned to the submarine force serving in various Engineering billets.

Mr. Jewett's previous duty assignments include USS Dace (SSN-607), Groton, CT; USS Plunger (SSN-595), San Diego, CA; USS Shark (SSN-591) Vallejo, CA and USS Kentucky (SSBN-737), Kings Bay, GA. Previous shore assignments include Instructor, Nuclear Power School, Orlando, FL and Division Officer, Prospective Nuclear Engineer Officer School, Kings Bay, GA.

Mr. Jewett earned his Masters of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL in 2004.

Allen Dutton - Veterans Benefit Counselor

Allen Dutton is a retired LCDR (O-4) in the US Navy and still serves the fleet in his position as a Technology & Training Manager for a major naval component. He also serves as the Operations Manager of the Veterans Assistance Network and as a Veterans Benefit Counselor for the Mesothelioma Center, assisting veteran clients in obtaining the maximum benefits for which they are entitled.

In 1984, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear submarine sailor. After attending Electronics Technician "A" School and Nuclear Power School, he served on a nuclear fast-attack submarine and later as an instructor at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho.

After achieving the rank of E-6 In 1990, he was selected for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program and attended Oregon State University, graduating Cum Laude in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering. He was commissioned in December 1994 and returned to the submarine force serving in various Engineering and Weapons Department billets.

Mr. Dutton's previous sea duty assignments include USS Groton (SSN-694), Groton, CT; USS Cheyenne (SSN-773), Pearl Harbor, HI; USS Norfolk (SSN-714) Norfolk, VA; USS Albany (SSN-753), Norfolk, VA and Carrier Strike Group TEN staff, embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Previous shore assignments include Instructor, Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, ID.

Mr. Dutton earned his Masters of Science degree in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation in September of 2001 from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.