VCF Cancer Awards and Other Compensation Lawyers for September 11 Victim Benefits
The 911 compensation lawyers at Pitta & Baione LLP focus their practice on helping the victims of the September 11 attacks access free health services and financial compensation awards. The information below provides a general summary of the coverage and benefits available under the Zadroga Act – including the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), and specific information about VCF cancer awards. We always recommend talking to a knowledgeable 911 compensation lawyer to review your specific claim based on the current program rules.
COVERAGE AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM
What Benefits Are Available under the WTCHP?
The WTCHP offers free health services to enrolled WTCHP members for the treatment of health conditions that are certified to be related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath, including debris removal activities and toxic air conditions.
Available health services include:
- medical monitoring;
- physical exams;
- tests;
- ongoing treatment; and
- prescription medications.
What Conditions are Covered?
Free treatment is available under the WTCHP for a specific list of physical and mental health conditions that have been determined to be caused by exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attacks (Covered Conditions). Covered Conditions include:
- Most cancers
- Acute traumatic injuries
- Psychological disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety
- Aerodigestive disorders such as asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Sleep apnea
The WTCHP also offers treatment for health conditions that would not otherwise be covered if those conditions were caused by the progression or treatment of a Covered Condition. The WTCHP maintains an up-to-date list of Covered Conditions on its website.
FINANCIAL COVERAGE AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND
What Costs Can I Recover under the Victim Compensation Fund?
The VCF offers a tax-free, lump-sum financial award to any individual who suffers from a certified Covered Condition under the WTCHP or to the family of a deceased eligible individual.
Financial compensation is available to cover the following economic and non-economic losses:
- Past out-of-pocket medical expenses;
- Past and future lost earnings;
- Past and future lost employment-related benefits;
- Funeral, burial, and memorial service expenses;
- Past and future replacement services such as housekeeping, child care and other regular home maintenance services; and
- Pain and suffering.
Who is Eligible for a Financial Award under the VCF?
The eligibility requirements for the VCF are more restrictive than those for the WTCHP. In general, you may be eligible for a financial award under the VCF if you meet the following two criteria:
- You were present at the designated 9/11 Crash Site Area (a smaller area than the WTCHP NYC Disaster Area) at any time between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002; and
- You suffer from a WTCHP-certified Covered Condition. Psychological disorders do not qualify as Covered Conditions for purposes of the VCF.
As of July 2017, to be eligible to receive a financial award under the VCF you must also be enrolled in the WTCHP, unless you qualify for an exception and can prove your Covered Condition based on medical records.
PITTA & BAIONE LLP SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS
9/11 COMPENSATION LAWYERS CAN PRESERVE YOUR CLAIM AND PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
The 911 compensation lawyers at Pitta & Baione have years of experience helping our clients initiate and prove claims for benefits under both the WTCHP and the VCF. We have helped our clients recover over $250 million since 2016, including several multi-million dollar awards. Call us at 844-901-1237 today for a free consultation to learn how our attorneys can help you access the benefits you deserve.
Blood & Lymphoid Cancer
- Diffuse non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Follicular (nodular) non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Leukemia of unspecified cell type
- Lymphoid leukemia
- Malignant immunoproliferative diseases
- Monocytic leukemia
- Multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms
- Myeloid leukemia
- Other and unspecified lymphoid, hematopoietic, and related tissue conditions
- Other and unspecified types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Other specified cell types of leukemia
- Peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Digestive System Cancer
Eye and Orbital Cancer
Female Breast Cancer
The WTCHP recognized the link between exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), other toxins, and the development of breast cancer. The WTCHP allows 9/11 breast cancer victims to receive medical treatment and also provides monitoring to first responders and survivors for proper screening of all 9/11-related medical conditions.
Brain Cancer
Exposure to the harmful post-9/11 elements increased the chance of brain cancer in survivors.
Examples of VCF eligible primary brain cancers include, but are not limited to, the malignant forms of:
- Gliomas: Tumors that begin in the brain or spinal cord
- Astrocytoma
- Ependymoma
- Glioblastoma
- Oligodendroglioma
- Meningiomas: Tumors that arise from the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
- Acoustic neuromas: Tumors that develop on the nerves that control balance and hearing
- Pituitary carcinomas: Tumors that develop in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain
- Medulloblastomas: Tumors that begin in the lower back part of the brain and spread through spinal fluid
Ovarian Cancer
Most cases of ovarian cancer require surgery to remove the cancer and often will require a series of surgeries. As with other cancers, chemotherapy and radiation may be used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Some possible symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach or heartburn
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation
- Menstrual changes
Head and Neck Cancer
- Accessory sinuses
- Base of tongue
- Floor of mouth
- Gum
- Hypopharynx
- Larynx
- Lip
- Nasal cavity
- Nasopharynx
- Other and ill-defined conditions in the lips, oral cavity, and pharynx
- Other and unspecified conditions in the major salivary glands
- Other and unspecified conditions in parts of the mouth
- Other and unspecified conditions in parts of the tongue
- Oropharynx
- Palate
- Parotid gland
- Piriform sinus
- Tonsil
Respiratory System Cancer
- Bronchus and lung
- Heart, mediastinum, and pleura
- Other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs
- Trachea
Skin Cancer
Soft Tissue Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Urinary System Cancer
Uterine Cancer
9/11 uterine cancer patients qualify to receive federally-funded medical monitoring and treatment as well as potential compensation through the VCF.
Uterine cancer has various subtypes. These subtypes include:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Uterine papillary serous carcinoma
- Uterine clear cell carcinoma
- Uterine carcinosarcoma (CS)
- Uterine sarcoma
Rare Cancers
- Malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland and other endocrine glands and related structures
- Anus and anal canal
- Bone and articular cartilage
- Breast among men
- Gallbladder and other parts of biliary tract
- Meninges, brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other parts of central nervous system
- Pancreas
- Penis and testis
- Placenta
- Small intestine
- Thymus
- Vulva, vagina, and cervix uteri (invasive only)
- Malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm, including carcinoid tumors
- Myeloid neoplasms, including myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms, and myeloid malignancies associated with eosinophilia and abnormalities of growth factor receptors derived from platelets or fibroblasts
- Other cancers that meet the threshold incidence rate of less than 15 cases per 100,000 persons per year based on age-adjusted 2005-2009 average annual data.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the mesothelium tissue of the body. This tissue lines a number of vital organs, including the lungs, stomach, and heart.
Symptoms generally include:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent, dry cough
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Chest tightness or pain
Aerodigestive Disorders
- Asthma
- Chronic cough syndrome
- Chronic laryngitis
- Chronic nasopharyngitis
- Chronic respiratory disorder due to fumes/vapors
- Chronic rhinosinusitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (“GERD”) (persistent heartburn)
- Interstitial lung diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis)
- Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (“RADS”)
- Sleep apnea exacerbated by or related to another condition described in the list of aerodigestive disorders
- Upper airway hyperreactivity
- WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- New-onset COPD
Mental Health Conditions
Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Responders who received treatment for a WTC-related musculoskeletal disorder, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or lower back pain, on or before September 11, 2003 are eligible for coverage.
Acute Traumatic Injury
Responders and survivors who received treatment for a WTC-related acute traumatic injury on or before September 11, 2003 are eligible for coverage. Examples include:
Precancerous Conditions
Precancerous conditions can turn into cancer if left untreated. One of these cancers includes the rare Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia (EIN), an aggressive condition affecting the lining of the uterus that has been linked to 9/11 toxin exposure.
