Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma in the Navy

Navy veterans are among those in the military who experienced the highest rates of asbestos exposure, putting them at significant risk of developing diseases like mesothelioma. The primary cause of this aggressive cancer is asbestos exposure. The Department of Defense has identified 18 Military Occupational Specialties in the Navy that are considered “highly probable” for asbestos exposure.

Because of their resistance to heat, the U.S. Navy relied heavily on asbestos products from the 1930s through the early 1980s, especially on ships. A significant percentage of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are military veterans, with the highest rates in the Navy.

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 us. At the time, he and other sailors were unaware of the health risks exposure to asbestos posed.

Are Navy Veterans Still at Risk of Developing Mesothelioma?

Navy veterans are still at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. Irritation from asbestos fibers inhaled decades ago can take 20 to 60 years to develop into mesothelioma. Navy veterans are usually diagnosed long after their time in service.

It’s important to share your asbestos exposure history with your doctor. Regular screenings and VA support are important for early diagnosis. 

While veterans with heavy and prolonged exposure during the period of heaviest asbestos use are most at risk, younger veterans and their families can also be exposed. Legacy asbestos products remain in older ships and buildings on bases. Navy personnel can also accidentally carry fibers home on their uniforms, skin or hair, putting family members at risk through secondary exposure.

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How Were Navy Veterans Exposed to Asbestos?

Asbestos was heavily used in ships and shipyards in insulation and fireproofing materials. It was found throughout Navy vessels in equipment, pipes and engine rooms. Navy base housing and buildings also contained asbestos products, putting service members, civilian workers and military families at risk. 

Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

• Legacy asbestos exposure: Older buildings, ships and equipment made with asbestos are still in use today. This includes barracks and base housing.
• Military occupational exposure: Navy veterans who served during the height of asbestos use from the 1930s to 1980s were at a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Serving on older ships also increases exposure risk.
• Secondary asbestos exposure: Family members and other Navy service members can be exposed to asbestos fibers on uniforms and equipment.

Even today, personnel in combat zones may be exposed if older buildings are damaged. Veterans of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine all face potential asbestos exposure from various sources during their service.

Highest-Risk Naval Occupations

In addition to the DOD’s list of high risk occupations, the Department of Veterans Affairs lists many military jobs and settings with high asbestos risk. This list of high-risk jobs includes shipyards, construction, demolition, carpentry, roofing and working with brake linings. 

Shipyard workers are also at risk when dismantling decommissioned ships built with asbestos-containing materials. Jobs like fire controlman and firefighter posed a significant risk from burning asbestos products. Some gear for fire crews was made with asbestos for its fire resistance. 

Highest-Risk Navy Occupations

• Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ)
• Boilermaker (B & BR)
• Boiler Technician (BT)
• Fire Controlman (FC)
• Fire Control Technician (FT & FTG)
• Firefighter (FN)
• Hull Maintenance Technician (HT)
• Instrumentman (IM)
• Pipefitter (FP)
• Sonarman (SO)
• Soundman (SoM)
• Sonar Technician (ST, STG, SOG & STS)
• Utilitiesman (UT)
• Water Tender (WT)

This list helps the VA decide who may qualify for disability benefits related to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a disease the VA recognizes as connected to military service, particularly in the Navy. The VA acknowledges the link between the Navy’s history of heavy asbestos use and mesothelioma and provides benefits and access to treatment.

Asbestos Exposure Aboard US Navy Ships

U.S. Navy ships built from the 1930s through the early 1980s used large amounts of asbestos. The lower decks like engine, boiler and pump rooms were areas with the highest exposure risk. Both Navy sailors and U.S. Marines who lived and worked on these vessels were at risk, even if they didn’t handle asbestos directly. 

Poor ventilation and tight quarters allowed asbestos fibers used in insulation, boilers, gaskets and flooring to spread throughout the ship. Aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, submarines and other vessels all contained asbestos in various materials and components.

Shipyards, such as Bremerton Puget Sound, Charleston, Long Beach and San Diego, were also higher-risk work sites. Workers building, repairing or dismantling ships often encountered high concentrations of airborne asbestos. Even today, Navy shipyards and older vessels may still present asbestos hazards, making awareness and monitoring important for veterans and their families.

Asbestos Products Used in the Navy

Asbestos-containing products were used throughout Navy ships, from the deck to the engine room, because of their durability and resistance to heat, fire and saltwater corrosion. Materials like insulation, machine parts and safety gear often contained asbestos and could release harmful fibers when damaged, putting sailors who performed repairs and maintenance at higher risk of exposure.

Naval Asbestos Products

• Adhesives
• Bedding compounds
• Block insulation
• Boiler insulation
• Cables
• Deck covering materials
• Gaskets
• Packing materials
• Paneling
• Paint
• Pipe insulation
• Pumps
• Spray-on insulation
• Textiles
• Valves

Navy veteran Jim A., who served on the USS Renville in the 1960s, told us, “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.”

Bob Niemiec

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Mesothelioma Survivor, a Navy Veteran, Defies the Odds

Navy veteran Bob Niemiec is a mesothelioma survivor who even doctors say defied the odds. “Every doctor we’ve seen all said it’s impossible medically for this man to still be alive, so it’s just not his time to go,” said Jeannie, his his wife of 55 years. Bob entered the Navy in 1965 at the age of 20. His first assignment out of boot camp was to scrape paint off of the landing ship U.S.S. Hermitage. It turns out the paint he was scraping contained asbestos.

Bob Niemiec

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Read Bob’s Story

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Even those who never worked directly with asbestos can still develop mesothelioma from secondary exposure. This happens when asbestos fibers are brought home on clothing, shoes, equipment and hair, putting family members at risk. 

Sailors, shipyard workers and others in shared spaces like barracks or work areas may also expose those around them. Over time, this indirect contact has led to mesothelioma in people who were never directly involved in higher-risk jobs.

Benefits for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

U.S. Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible for VA benefits such as disability compensation, health care and other financial assistance to help cover treatment costs. Those with a 100% disability rating may receive more than $3,700 in monthly benefits and full access to VA medical care. The VA supports veterans based on service-connected disabilities, medical conditions and financial need.

Available Benefits for Navy Veterans

• Aid and Attendance: These claims provide monthly payments to those who need help with daily activities.
• Caregiver Benefits: The VA offers a Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers that provides benefits to veteran caregivers, including a monthly stipend, respite care and mental health counseling.
• Funeral and Burial Reimbursement: In 2025, the VA burial and funeral reimbursement provides up to $2,000 for veterans whose death is determined to be service-connected. For nonservice-connected deaths after October 1, 2024, the VA will pay up to $978 toward burial and funeral expenses, plus a $978 plot allowance if the burial isn’t in a national cemetery. 
• Housebound Benefits: Veterans confined mainly to their homes because of their illness may qualify for additional payments added to their VA pension. This benefit is similar to Aid & Attendance but can’t be received simultaneously.
• Special Monthly Compensation: This is for veterans needing in-home care or assistance as a result of their illness.
• VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Also known as DIC, dependency and indemnity compensation provides monthly payments to the surviving dependents of veterans who had mesothelioma.
• VA Disability Compensation: This provides more than $3,700 in monthly tax-free payments for married veterans. The amount varies based on family status.
• VA Geriatric and Extended Care: These programs provide respite care, home health care, palliative care and assisted living or nursing home care.
• VA Health Care: Veterans can access free or low-cost VA health care, including treatment from top mesothelioma specialists within the VA health system.
• VA Pension: This provides monthly payments to veterans and their surviving spouses based on certain requirements, including income and net worth.

VA benefits may include medical care and monthly disability compensation for service-connected medical conditions. Veterans who are married, have dependent children or care for family members with special needs may be eligible for additional compensation. These benefits can also extend to spouses and dependent children after the veteran’s passing. Even if your mesothelioma isn’t officially linked to your military service, you may still qualify to receive mesothelioma treatment through the VA health care system.

How Navy Veterans Can File a VA Claim for Mesothelioma

Navy veterans can file a VA claim for mesothelioma with the help of a VA-accredited claims agent. VA claims agents have the expertise to help you navigate the complicated process, ensuring claims are filed correctly. They can help you gather the military records and medical documentation to support your VA claim, including a written asbestos exposure summary.

As a former U.S. Army Captain and now the director of the Veterans Department at The Mesothelioma Center, 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.

Navy Asbestos Settlements and Legal Claims for Veterans

Mesothelioma settlement amounts for U.S. Navy veterans and their families typically range from $1 million to $2 million. In some cases, total awards, including settlements and trial verdicts, have exceeded $70 million for veterans and their loved ones. 

Navy veterans cannot sue the U.S. government directly over military asbestos exposure. But they can file claims against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used on Navy ships.

Notable Asbestos Verdicts and Settlements Involving U.S. Navy Veterans

• $70.8 Million: U.S. Navy machinist Robert Whalen received this trial award in 2014 for developing mesothelioma after working with John Crane’s asbestos gaskets during his 26-year Navy career.
• $40 Million: U.S. Navy veteran Walter Twidwell received this trial award in 2018 against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Twidwell served as a boiler tender during his service. 
• $6.5 Million: A jury awarded Navy shipyard worker George Parker this award in 2016 after he developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos gaskets while working at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
• $5.2 Million: The surviving family of Richard Walmach received this award in 2007 in a wrongful death case after he developed mesothelioma from removing asbestos insulation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The court found Foster Wheeler Corp. failed to warn him about the dangers of its asbestos products.

Navy veterans and their families can pursue legal settlements to help cover treatment costs, supplement income and pay expenses that VA benefits may not cover. Consulting an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you understand your options and guide you through filing a lawsuit or claims with asbestos trust funds, even if you don’t qualify for VA benefits.

Treatment for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

The VA health care system provides advanced treatment and expert cancer care for Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. Treatment options include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The VA also offers accurate diagnosis and access to second opinions from mesothelioma specialists within the VA network.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options for U.S. Navy Veterans

• Chemo: Standard regimens use pemetrexed combined with a platinum agent like cisplatin or carboplatin. 
• Cryotherapy (Cryoablation): Freezing cancer cells to destroy tumors is especially useful for managing recurrent disease or pain.
• Emerging and experimental treatments: These include gene therapy (altering genes in mesothelioma cells), enzyme therapy (like ADI-PEG20 or PARP inhibitors), epigenetic therapy and vaccine therapy.
• Immunotherapy: FDA-approved drugs such as Yervoy, Opdivo and Keytruda are first-line options. Clinical trials are investigating additional immunotherapies.
• Multimodal therapy: Combines 2 or more therapies (often surgery, chemo and radiation or immunotherapy) for improved outcomes, particularly in long-term survivors.
• Photodynamic therapy: Uses light-sensitive drugs and targeted light to destroy cancer cells and is being studied in combination with immunotherapy for greater effect.
• Radiation therapy: Sometimes used as part of a multimodal plan, especially after surgery for residual tumor control.
• Surgery: Procedures such as pleural decortication and pericardectomy focus on specific regions of the body. Surgery is generally limited to select patients, often those with early-stage, epithelioid-type disease.
• Targeted therapy: Oral medications like Lynparza and Tazverik focus on genetic or molecular targets within cancer cells and are showing promise in some clinical trials.

Your treatment plan will depend on many factors, including cancer stage, cell type, overall health and genetic factors. For veterans who don’t live near a specialist, the VA offers virtual appointments and remote case management, allowing experts to guide your treatment online. Additionally, the VA reimburses travel expenses for veterans who need to travel for 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.

These VA mesothelioma treatment centers bring together leading specialists and advanced therapies to ensure veterans receive the highest quality care possible. No matter where you’re located, the VA health care system can help connect you to specialized mesothelioma care at a center that meets your needs.

Mesothelioma Specialists Treating Navy Veterans

The VA has mesothelioma specialists across the country who provide cutting-edge treatments to veterans, including many Navy veterans, coping with this aggressive cancer. These experts specialize in mesothelioma care and have extensive experience managing complex treatment plans aimed at helping patients live longer, healthier lives.

Navy veterans bear a hefty burden of asbestos-related cancers linked to their service. To address this, the VA health care system has partnered with some of the nation’s leading mesothelioma doctors to deliver exceptional cancer care tailored to veterans’ unique needs.

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 constructed before the 1980s have 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.

You can learn more about VA claims from our FAQ about VA benefits.

What compensation is available for Navy veterans with mesothelioma?

Navy veterans with mesothelioma are eligible for monthly VA benefits and health care. Available benefits for Navy veterans also include survivor benefits and specialized health care. Navy veterans may also file a mesothelioma lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim. 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.

What is the Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program?

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 people with known military occupational asbestos exposure to screen for mesothelioma and asbestosis. It also documents service-related exposure. This is important for filing a VA claim.

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