Since proving that the veteran contracted Mesothelioma during active service is extremely difficult given the fact that Mesothelioma has a long gestation period with a sudden sharp critical stage, getting government backed compensation specifically for Mesothelioma is extremely difficult.
Unlike defined cases such as exposure to Agent Orange or Depleted Uranium Shells where the proof of exposure is that much simpler, proving that a veteran inhaled asbestos while in service runs into trouble and hence the best course of action is to get compensation from the companies that provided the asbestos in the first place and it here that going the legal route is considered the best option available.