VA Boston Healthcare System
1400 VFW Parkway Building T89, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132
The Boston VA Medical Center is part of VA Boston Healthcare System, which provides medical care to veterans. Mesothelioma is treated with a full team of medical experts, including a surgeon.
Pleural Mesothelioma
West Roxbury VA Medical Center
1400 VFW Parkway Building T89
West Roxbury, Massachusetts
Dr. Hassan Khalil
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More Information About the VA Boston Healthcare System
The VA Boston Healthcare System, a network for veterans seeking medical care, utilizes the resources and staff of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is one of the premier cancer centers in the world. Dr. Hassan Khalil, a thoracic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, runs the mesothelioma treatment program at the Boston VA Medical Center, also called the West Roxbury VA Medical Center.
Dr. Khalil primarily sees mesothelioma patients at the West Roxbury campus of the VA Boston Healthcare System. His experience with thoracic malignancies means he’s primarily a pleural mesothelioma specialist. This rare cancer forms in the narrow space between the lungs and chest wall.
Dr. Khalil assumed leadership of the Boston VA’s mesothelioma program in 2020. Dr. Abraham “Avi” Lebenthal started the initiative in 2010 to provide veterans with care and support rivaling the best cancer centers in the country.
- Dr. Hassan Khalil, thoracic surgeon
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
- Pleurectomy with decortication
- Immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation
Get Connected to the VA Boston Healthcare System
Our VA‑accredited claims agent, retired Navy LCDR Carl Jewett, has helped many veterans get the medical care they need. He can help you find treatment with a specialist at the Boston VA Medical Center.
Why Choose Boston VA Medical Center?
- Led by mesothelioma surgeon Dr. Hassan Khalil
- One of the only VA hospitals with a mesothelioma program
- Options include surgery, chemotherapy and more
Dr. Hassan Khalil
Unlike most VA healthcare systems and hospitals, the Boston VA Healthcare System has a fully equipped mesothelioma program. It was started in 2010 by respected specialist Dr. Avi Lebenthal. Dr. Hassan Khalil assumed leadership in 2020.
Dr. Khalil joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital that same year. His official title is associate surgeon in the thoracic surgery division.
He received his medical degree from the University of Texas, after which he completed a general surgery residency at UCLA. He began his career at Brigham and Women’s with two fellowships: one in minimally invasive thoracic surgery and another in cardiothoracic surgery.
For veterans using the VA’s health care system, finding a mesothelioma specialist can be difficult. Many veterans don’t realize that general oncologists within the VA aren’t experienced in treating mesothelioma.
The Boston VA is rare in this regard because mesothelioma is part of Dr. Khalil’s clinical focus. So he will use his knowledge and experience from helping patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to help veterans through the VA Boston Healthcare System.
Getting Treated Through the Boston VA Hospital
The primary benefit of receiving treatment through the Boston VA Medical Center, other than their stellar mesothelioma program, is that veterans with mesothelioma may get free treatment.
The VA has a long‑standing policy of providing free treatment to veterans with a disability rating of 50% or higher and for conditions that are labeled “service‑related.”
Veterans with mesothelioma often developed the disease as a result of service‑related asbestos exposure, which fills the criteria for health care compensation. Even if a veteran can’t link their exposure to military service, mesothelioma usually generates a 100% disability rating.
Before mesothelioma patients can get treatment through the VA system, they have to enroll, which requires information such as:
- Certificate of Discharge from Active Duty
- Employment information
- Personal financial information
- Basic info regarding their spouse and dependents
Finding and getting care from a VA specialist can be frustrating and difficult, but there are people who can help simplify the enrollment process, getting you the treatment you deserve. Our patient advocates can get you started through our free Doctor Match program.
Other VA Benefits Available
In addition to VA health care, veterans with mesothelioma are also entitled to benefits to compensate them for a service‑related condition. These benefits ensure veterans can remain financially secure. Veterans with mesothelioma are often eligible for:
- Full disability compensation
- Survivor benefits for spouses and dependents
- Housing and pension benefits
With the help of our VA‑accredited claims agent, veterans with mesothelioma can get all the assistance they need to successfully file for these benefits. If you’re a veteran with mesothelioma, start your claims process today by contacting retired Navy LCDR Carl Jewett. You can also email him directly at cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com.
Sources & Author
- Welcoming New Faculty – Hassan Khalil, MD. Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Retrieved from: https://www.brighamsurgerynews.com/welcoming-new-faculty-hassan-khalil-md/. Accessed: 06/29/2021.
- Hassan A Khalil, MD. Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Retrieved from: https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/details/14537/hassan-khalil-thoracic_surgery-boston. Accessed: 06/29/2021.
- West Roxbury VA Medical Center. VA Boston Healthcare System. Retrieved from: https://www.boston.va.gov/locations/directions.asp. Accessed: 09/29/2021.
