Syracuse VA Medical Center

Established in 1953, the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center provides inpatient and outpatient medical care to United States military veterans residing in Central and Northern New York. Located on Irving Avenue in Syracuse, New York, the VA Medical Center is a 106-bed hospital. The Syracuse VA Medical Center is the primary referral center for neurosurgery within the Department of Veterans Affairs in Upstate New York. The Department of Veterans Affairs has designated the Syracuse VA Medical Center as a Center of Excellence for its programs to treat wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prior to the late 1970s, workers utilized asbestos-containing insulating cement, pipe covering and block insulation during maintenance and repair procedures at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. Inhaling dust from the application and removal of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Steam boilers were used to heat the VA Medical Center through a network of pipes, which delivered steam to radiators throughout the hospital. Asbestos-containing insulation was applied to boilers, pipes, pumps and valves in order to maintain a stable temperature within the steam system. During maintenance and repair procedures, workers removed asbestos insulation in order to access equipment. New insulation was applied when maintenance or repair procedures were completed. Removing and applying asbestos-containing insulation emitted asbestos dust and fibers, which workers inhaled.

Many union and non-union laborers who worked on construction projects for the Syracuse VA Medical Center were employed by various contractors throughout Central New York. If you or a loved one were once employed in connection with the construction or maintenance of the Syracuse VA Medical Center and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.