The Navy, Asbestos Exposure, and Mesothelioma

U.S. Navy veterans have some of the highest risk for developing mesothelioma of any group. The military, especially the Navy, used asbestos extensively in buildings, ships, vehicles, and more. Navy veterans with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses are entitled to benefits and compensation.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

Why Are U.S. Navy Veterans at Risk for Mesothelioma?

About 3,000 Americans receive a mesothelioma diagnosis every year. Approximately 30% of mesothelioma diagnoses are in veterans. Navy veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma more than veterans from any other branch of the military.

Veterans are at such high risk for mesothelioma because most were exposed to asbestos during their time in the service. For much of the Navy’s history, asbestos was linked to the safety of almost every ship in the fleet.

From the early ironclads and steam frigates of the Civil War to the aircraft carriers built during World War II and most of the Cold War, most ships bearing the USS prefix before their names contained tons of asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos is problematic anywhere. On ships, cramped spaces and poor ventilation worsened asbestos exposure and its consequences.

How Did the Navy Use Asbestos on Ships?

Navy vessels used asbestos in nearly every component for many decades. Asbestos was used to insulate ships, fireproof them, and to protect sailors and others from heat and fire. Some examples of where asbestos could be found on Navy vessels include:

• Insulation
• Pipe lagging
• Boilers
• Engine rooms
• Gaskets
• Seals
• Valves
• Pumps
• Bulkheads
• Firefighting gear
• Flooring
• Ceiling tiles
• Paint
• Textiles
• Packing materials
• Adhesives

Other Uses of Asbestos in the Navy

Ships and shipyards where service men and women worked on and repaired ships had the most asbestos. But, the U.S. Navy also used asbestos in equipment, vehicles, and aircraft. It went into components, like brakes and clutches, to protect against friction and heat.

Both the civilian and military construction industries also used a lot of asbestos. Barracks, offices, and other buildings on Navy bases were constructed with asbestos in the insulation, roofing materials, drywall, flooring tiles, and more.

Which Navy Occupations Were Most at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Anyone who served in the Navy was at risk for asbestos exposure and is now at risk for an asbestos illness.

No amount of exposure is safe, but one or even a few exposures to asbestos are unlikely to cause mesothelioma. The Navy veterans at the highest risk for mesothelioma were repeatedly exposed to asbestos, usually on Navy ships.

Navy occupations that put veterans at the greatest risk for developing asbestos illnesses later include:

• Boiler technicians
• Engine operators
• Firefighters
• Gunners
• Insulators
• Machinists
• Mechanics
• Pipefitters
• Welders

Any role that involved maintenance or repairs on ships put sailors at high risk of asbestos exposure. These workers often had to cut into or remove asbestos materials, which released fibers. Asbestos exposure was even more harmful in the small, poorly ventilated spaces on a vessel.

When Did the Navy Use the Most Asbestos?

The Navy’s use of asbestos and ACMs peaked between 1939 and the early 1970s. This period coincided with the fleet’s massive expansion due to American participation in World War II.

From 1939, the year the war began in Europe, until 1945, the U.S. built 124,000 ships of all types. Most were merchant ships needed to haul supplies and troops overseas, but many vessels were warships.

During the war, the Navy built ten battleships, 27 aircraft carriers,110 escort carriers, 211 submarines, and 907 cruisers, destroyers, and escort vessels. All of these vessels carried combustible fuel and an assortment of munitions. The Bureau of Ships required the use of asbestos in almost every part of each vessel as a safety measure.

Thousands of civilian shipyard workers throughout the U.S. were also exposed to asbestos. Many of these sailors and workers later developed asbestos-related illnesses.

What VA Benefits Are Available to Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma?

The U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) offers qualifying veterans with asbestos illnesses and their families certain benefits.

• Monthly Disability Compensation. The VA provides monthly payments for service-related disabilities. The amount of compensation a disabled veteran depends on their disability rating and whether they have a spouse or dependent children. Mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating, so veterans with this diagnosis are eligible for maximum disability payments.
• Special Monthly Compensation. Some disabled veterans need care in their own homes. This is common in veterans with mesothelioma. They can apply for additional compensation to cover these costs.
• Geriatric and Extended Care. Many veterans with mesothelioma are elderly. They may qualify for programs that provide home care, palliative care, assisted living, and respite care.
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Families of deceased veterans may qualify to receive monthly compensation.
• Funeral Expenses. Surviving families can also apply for funeral or burial expenses. This benefit is a reimbursement given after the family has paid the costs.

How Do Navy Veterans Apply for VA Benefits?

To get VA benefits, you must apply. The application process can take a few minutes, so starting early is important. Veterans qualify for benefits if they can show that they have an illness caused by asbestos and that they were exposed to asbestos during their service in the Navy.

How Do Veterans Prove Asbestos Exposure in the Navy?

Applying for VA benefits can be a little complicated. It involves more than just filling out an application. Navy veterans must supply three types of documentation with their applications:

• Service records to indicate they had a role that likely exposed them to asbestos
• Medical records with a diagnosis
• A doctor’s statement that the diagnosis is related to past asbestos exposure

Who Can Help a Veteran Apply for VA Benefits?

Veterans can file on their own or ask someone to help them. The process can be confusing and complicated, especially for someone who is very ill. While anyone can help, the best people to assist veterans with VA claims include:

• A Veterans Service Organization representative
• A mesothelioma or asbestos lawyer

These people have the training, experience, and resources to help veterans make a successful claim for benefits.

Can Veterans Sue the Navy for Asbestos Exposure?

No, veterans cannot sue the U.S. Navy for asbestos exposure. They cannot sue the federal government either. The government provides the VA and its benefits to help veterans cope with illnesses resulting from asbestos exposure.

Veterans can sue private companies, though. Veterans can sue asbestos companies that supplied the Navy. An asbestos lawsuit can result in compensation through a settlement or jury award.

Another option veterans have is to make a claim with an asbestos trust fund. These funds were set up by asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy.

Filing a lawsuit or making an asbestos trust fund claim does not impact a veteran’s VA benefits. Receiving compensation from these sources does not reduce VA compensation.

Mesothelioma Treatment for Navy Veterans

Mesothelioma is a difficult illness to treat. Patients get the best results from specialists in both cancer and mesothelioma.

Because mesothelioma rates are high in veterans, several VA medical facilities offer treatment. Some VA centers staff mesothelioma specialists or have access to specialists at nearby hospitals. A few examples of these include:

• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
• VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
• VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
• Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL

The Legacy of Asbestos Use by the U.S. Navy

As the years and decades passed, doctors noticed an increase in patients with lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Most of these patients were former World War II-era sailors or shipyard workers now in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Also, because Navy ships have service lives between 20-50 years, many sailors and Marines who served after World War II were also exposed to asbestos.

The Bureau of Ships and its latter-day counterparts, Naval Ship Systems Command and Naval Sea Systems Command, continued purchasing and using asbestos until the late 1970s.

Since the U.S. banned most commercial use of asbestos in recent years, the Navy has carried out various cleanup programs to limit sailors’ exposure on older ships still in service. Ships’ commanders are responsible for implementing asbestos safety training.

They must also treat every ship launched before 1980 as though it contained friable asbestos in insulation material. The maintenance of an emergency asbestos response team is also mandatory.

Todd Shipyards Asbestos Lawsuit

Todd Shipyards was one of the major suppliers of naval ships during much of the 20th Century.

In its many years of operations under the Todd brand name, the company built, repaired, or renovated hundreds of ships. Todd and its modern counterpart, Vigor Shipyards, worked on many civilian contracts. Todd also received lucrative contracts from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and the Royal Australian Navy.

Using production techniques designed by Henry Kaiser, Todd Shipyards turned out oil tankers at a rate of one ship every four-and-a-half days during World War II.

The adverse effects of the shipbuilding activity resulted in several asbestos lawsuits against Todd Shipyards. Before Vigor purchased the company in 2010, the directors reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that 565 plaintiffs had filed 490 asbestos complaints.

The company also told the SEC it was defending against 194 medical claims, including ten related to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Many former employees of Todd facilities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Los Angeles filed claims and alleged that asbestos exposure caused their illnesses. Todd/Vigor defended their past use of asbestos in court, forcing the plaintiffs to go to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The shipbuilder lost several cases and had to pay the victims. Before Vigor took over the company, Todd Shipyards told the SEC that it had a bodily injury fund of over $3 million to cover the payouts.

Examples of Naval Shipyards and Air Stations Associated with Asbestos Use

• California Navy Shipyard
• San Diego Naval Shipyard
• Bender Shipbuilding
• Washington Navy Yard
• Pensacola Naval Air Stations
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
• Ingalls Shipbuilding
• Brooklyn Navy Yard
• Albina Shipyard
• Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard
• Houston Shipyards
• Todd Shipyards
• Pearl Harbor Naval Yard
• ADDSCO Shipyard
• Penn Shipbuilding
• Willamette Shipyard
• Newport Naval Yard
• Swan Island Shipyard

Additional Information and Legal Help

Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.