Currently, there is a great amount of media and political interest in traumatic brain injury, the signature wound of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is all very laudable, but the truth is there are veterans from long ago wars who are still fighting for compensation.

Take, as an example, the case of Lawrence T. Hess. Hess, a World War II Navy veteran who also served as a Secret Service agent, was diagnosed with asbestos-related pleural disease. He died in 2006, aged 79, a victim of mesothelioma. His widow, Susan Hess receives "dependency and indemnity compensation" for his years of service, December 1944 to July 1946.

Before he died, Hess helped author and veteran, William S Burton Sr, to research cases of military personnel who may have been exposed to asbestos while serving. Three years ago, Burton published the second edition of his book "Asbestos — The Silent Killer of Navy Veterans," in which he explains asbestos related disease, and outlines the steps veterans should take to prove their compensation claims for war-related illnesses.

Burton, now aged 83, is concerned that many veterans are still not aware of the dangers of asbestos. If they are not aware of the dangers, how can they know that they are entitled to compensation?

Read more about Burton's crusade.