Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma in the Navy

Mesothelioma is a rare and very aggressive cancer that mostly occurs in the tissue lining the lungs and abdomen but can also occur in the lining of the heart or testes. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. 

Military veterans are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to the general population. Navy veterans have the highest risk of asbestos exposure. The Department of Defense has identified 18 Military Occupational Specialties in the Navy that are considered “highly probable” to result in asbestos exposure.

“You could say I was shocked about my pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, but not that big of a shock because I had always wondered after hearing so much about how dangerous asbestos turned out to be. I’m told, though, it was caught early.”

Jim A.

Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Renville, an attack transport ship, in the 1960s

Occupational exposure to asbestos, including exposure during military service, is the most common source of asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers can also be carried on shoes and clothing, leading to secondary asbestos exposure. Navy veterans and their families are at high risk of asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases.

Early detection and treatment are important to improving health outcomes with mesothelioma. Navy veterans with known military asbestos exposure should be screened for asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can provide screening, treatment and disability compensation for veterans with service-connected mesothelioma.

Are Navy Veterans Still at Risk of Developing Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma has a long latency period of 20-60 years. This means that mesothelioma typically doesn’t develop until decades after asbestos exposure. 

Navy veterans with asbestos exposure during their military service are at risk of developing mesothelioma in their lifetime. While older veterans are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma, younger veterans are also at risk for developing mesothelioma in the future.

Asbestos is a mineral with heat-resistant properties that was used in a wide variety of products and industries into the 1970s. Asbestos products were used extensively in the U.S. Navy for decades. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. 

Service members and their families are still at risk of legacy asbestos exposure today. Older buildings, ships and equipment are still in service that were made with asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. Older ships and buildings still in use by the navy are sources of potential ongoing asbestos exposure.

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Benefits for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and who have a documented history of military asbestos exposure may qualify for VA benefits with a 100% disability rating. VA benefits are available for veterans with a service-connected disability or medical condition, as well as those with financial needs. Even if you have mesothelioma that isn’t connected to your military service, you may still qualify for mesothelioma treatment at a VA hospital.

In the 1970s, the Navy established the Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program. The AMSP monitors the health of veterans and civilians who were exposed to asbestos while working for the Navy and other military branches. This program helps track the medical status of individuals with known military occupational asbestos exposure to screen for mesothelioma and asbestosis. It also documents service-related asbestos exposure. This is important for filing a VA claim.

VA benefits can include medical care and monthly disability compensation based on your service-connected medical conditions. Veterans with service-connected disabilities who are married, have dependent children or have family members with special needs may be eligible for additional compensation benefits.

VA benefits for spouses and dependent children continue after a veteran’s death. You can learn more about VA claims from our FAQ about VA benefits.

How Navy Veterans Can File a VA Claim for Asbestos

Filing a VA claim can be a tedious and frustrating experience, but the VA-accredited claims agents at The Mesothelioma Center have the experience to guide you through each step of the process. We can help you assemble the military records and medical documentation to support your claim, including a written summary of your asbestos exposure.

“I want everyone to know that if you’re looking for information on how to start a claim for an asbestos-related disease, we can help you file a VA claim – line by line.”

Aaron Munz

Former U.S. Army Captain and director of the Veterans Department at The Mesothelioma Center

Our VA claims agents work with Veteran Service Officers and veterans throughout the claims process. Filing a VA claim for benefits related to asbestos-related diseases requires a lot of documentation, but with the proper assistance, we can help you file a fully developed claim to speed the claims process. Additionally, our claims agents can connect veterans with other medical, financial and legal resources.

Asbestos Settlements and Legal Claims for Navy Veterans

Individuals cannot sue the U.S. government over military asbestos exposure, but manufacturers of asbestos-containing products the Navy used can be sued.  The average mesothelioma settlement amount for U.S. Navy veterans and their families is $1 – $2 million. However, settlements and verdicts have awarded more than $70 million to U.S. Navy veterans and their families.

Navy veterans and their families can pursue a legal settlement to cover treatment expenses and other costs and to supplement income. Consult with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer for advice regarding how you and your family can file a legal claim to recover expenses VA benefits don’t cover.

Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

Asbestos was used extensively in ships and shipyards until the 1980s. Both naval personnel and civilians working for the Navy are at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used in many different products throughout ships, especially for insulation and fireproofing.

“I grew up wanting to be in the Navy, probably since I was 12 years old. I was proud to be there, proud to serve. It was fun, too. It took me around the world three times. I never thought about any long-range danger.”

John Conway

pleural mesothelioma survivor and former Navy boiler technician chief on the USS Wasp (CVS-18)

Navy veteran John Conway served on naval vessels involved in retrieving Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space capsules. While assigned to the USS Wasp, he also worked stripping asbestos from pipes below deck. “It used to look like it was snowing down there,” he told the Mesothelioma Center. At the time, he and other sailors were unaware of the risks asbestos exposure pose.

In addition to ships, shipyards and buildings on Navy bases, Navy personnel serving in combat zones can also be exposed to asbestos from older buildings that were damaged or destroyed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. There are many potential sources of asbestos exposure for veterans of the U.S. Navy and other branches of the armed forces, the Coast Guard and Merchant Mariners. Even those who don’t qualify for VA benefits can still file legal claims for asbestos exposure.

Highest-Risk Naval Occupations

The VA maintains a list of the occupations in the Navy and their risk of asbestos exposure. Sailors with certain MOSs have a high probability of asbestos exposure based on their specific job requirements and locations on vessels where they work and live.

Firefighters and Fire Controlmen are at risk of asbestos exposure from protective equipment made with asbestos, including respirators. Other MOSs have been identified with minimal or probable asbestos exposure, but these occupations can still result in dangerous levels of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos exposure on Navy ships can occur as a result of asbestos-containing equipment and working in areas with asbestos installation. Fire Controlmen, Firemen and others working with heat-resistant safety equipment can be exposed when using personal protective equipment made with asbestos. 

Disturbing asbestos, such as during repairs, can also result in the release of asbestos fibers into the air. Shipyard workers can be exposed to asbestos when disassembling decommissioned ships made using asbestos.

Types of Naval Vessels With Asbestos

Various Navy ships — including submarines — have used asbestos in their construction. Asbestos has been used in gaskets, pumps, pipe insulation, vinyl flooring, boilers, bulkheads, decks, insulation and other applications. Asbestos may be present throughout a ship, including living quarters.

Serving on any of these types of vessels puts you at risk of dangerous asbestos exposure. For Navy veterans, the type of ships you served on, the specific vessels and your occupation on those ships are important for determining your military asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure Aboard Navy Ships

Navy ships built between the 1930s through the 1970s used large amounts of asbestos in their construction. The highest risk for asbestos exposure comes from working in specific areas of the ship. Lower decks, including engine and boiler rooms and pump rooms, have the highest risk of asbestos exposure.

Working in other areas of ships can also lead to significant asbestos exposure, including around naval guns and the ship’s deck. Pipes covered with asbestos insulation run throughout some older ships, including through living quarters.

Asbestos exposure on ships affects both Navy sailors and U.S. Marines who lived and worked on Navy vessels. Extensive use of asbestos combined with tight quarters and poor ventilation resulted in the accumulation of asbestos fibers throughout ships, exposing those who didn’t work directly with asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure in Navy Shipyards

Shipyards are hotspots for asbestos exposure. Ships and buildings were constructed using asbestos for decades. Aside from shipbuilding, ships undergoing repairs and decommissioning are also sources of potential asbestos exposure. 

Asbestos exposure in shipyards is also a source of secondary asbestos exposure. Secondary exposure poses a risk for family members and coworkers of shipyard personnel. 

Asbestos Products Used in the Navy

Asbestos was used throughout Navy vessels for its heat- and fire-resistant properties as well as its resistance to saltwater corrosion. Products containing asbestos were used everywhere in ships, from the deck to the engine room.

Asbestos-containing products found on ships include various types of insulation, machine parts, safety equipment and other products that need to be durable and resistant to heat and salt corrosion. Many of these materials release dangerous asbestos fibers when damaged, so sailors performing repair and maintenance are at high risk for exposure.

Research shows that enlisted U.S. Navy personnel were exposed to significant amounts of asbestos on ships, resulting in high rates of mesothelioma and other cancers. Although asbestos use is currently limited, the long latency of mesothelioma means that anyone who has served on older ships is at risk of mesothelioma from past asbestos exposure.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

Even those who never worked around asbestos may still be at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when people are exposed to asbestos fibers carried on clothing, shoes and equipment. 

Family members of sailors exposed to asbestos can be exposed to fibers inadvertently carried home from work. Naval shipyard workers often returned home at the end of the day covered in asbestos dust, leading to secondary asbestos exposure for their family members.

Similarly, secondary exposure can occur in barracks sailors share with someone exposed to asbestos. Secondary exposure also occurs in the workplace. Sailors, marines and civilians who share workspaces with individuals exposed to asbestos are at risk of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Treatment for Navy Veterans

The VA healthcare system offers cutting-edge treatment and cancer care for veterans with mesothelioma. The VA can properly diagnose cases of mesothelioma, and they even offer second opinions from mesothelioma specialists who work for the VA. 

Even if you don’t live near a mesothelioma specialist, the VA offers virtual appointments and remote case management that allow a specialist to oversee and direct your treatment. The VA also reimburses travel expenses for veterans to receive covered medical care.

VA Treatment Centers

There are VA mesothelioma treatment centers across the country. VA medical centers in Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Atlanta have mesothelioma specialists.

The best step veterans can take to improve their prognosis is to undergo treatment for mesothelioma. Treatments that can extend survival, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, are available through the VA. 

Mesothelioma Specialists Treating Veterans

The VA has mesothelioma specialists who offer cutting-edge treatments throughout the country to veterans coping with this cancer. These doctors specialize in mesothelioma cancer care and have extensive expertise in managing treatment plans to help patients live longer.

Veterans bear a heavy burden of asbestos-related cancer. The VA healthcare system has partnered with some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the nation to offer excellent mesothelioma cancer care.

Common Questions From Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

When did the Navy stop using asbestos?

The Navy discontinued the use of asbestos for new ships and bases in the 1980s. Veterans who served on naval vessels between 1930 and 1980 have a high risk of developing mesothelioma.

Asbestos was not completely removed or encapsulated on existing vessels and facilities until the late 1990s. Veterans who were deployed overseas may also have been exposed to other sources of asbestos.

Do Navy ships still have asbestos?

Navy ships are no longer built with asbestos-containing materials. Ships that were constructed before the 1980s have also had any exposed asbestos removed or encapsulated. Asbestos on Navy ships does not present a health risk unless damaged or disturbed, but it can still be found on some older vessels.

What should I do if I believe I was exposed to asbestos while serving?

If you believe you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military, speak with your primary care physician about mesothelioma screenings. In many cases, veterans are eligible for VA asbestos disability benefits to cover the cost of medical bills and other expenses.

What benefits for compensation are available for Navy veterans with mesothelioma?

Navy veterans with mesothelioma are eligible for monthly benefits and VA healthcare. Available benefits for Navy veterans also include survivor benefits, specialized healthcare, trust funds and access to other legal claims.

How much compensation is available for Navy veterans affected by mesothelioma?

Navy veterans may file for VA benefits, a legal claim or both. Most legal claims end with a settlement. The average mesothelioma settlement payout is $1 million to $2 million, according to the latest Mealey’s Litigation Report.