U.S. Navy veterans face the highest mesothelioma risk of any military branch. Asbestos was used extensively in Navy ships built before 1980 — in boiler rooms, engine rooms, pipe insulation, gaskets, berthing areas, and mess halls. Veterans who served aboard ships, in shipyards, or in shore-based maintenance facilities during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War era have significantly elevated mesothelioma risk. Navy veterans can file both VA disability claims AND legal claims against asbestos companies simultaneously.
Why Navy Veterans Are at Highest Risk
From the 1930s through the 1970s, the U.S. Navy required asbestos in hundreds of ship components because of its fire resistance and insulation properties. Navy ships contained massive quantities of asbestos in:
- Boiler rooms — thick asbestos insulation on boilers, steam pipes, and equipment
- Engine rooms — asbestos lagging, gaskets, valve packing, and turbine insulation
- Pipe runs — miles of asbestos-wrapped steam and hot water pipes throughout vessels
- Berthing areas — overhead insulation where sailors slept
- Mess halls and galleys — asbestos in cooking equipment and heat shielding
- Damage control equipment — fire suits, blankets, and fireproofing materials
- Electrical systems — asbestos wrapping on cables and switchgear
Because ships are confined spaces with limited ventilation, sailors breathed concentrated asbestos fibers for months or years during deployments.
Highest-Risk Navy Occupations (Ratings)
- Boiler Technician (BT) — worked directly with boiler insulation and steam systems
- Machinist Mate (MM) — maintained engines, pumps, and mechanical systems containing asbestos
- Pipefitter — installed and maintained asbestos-insulated piping throughout ships
- Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) — worked with insulation and ship structure
- Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting training and equipment involved asbestos exposure
- Electrician Mate (EM) — worked near asbestos insulation and electrical systems
- Enginemen (EN) — exposed in diesel engine rooms and auxiliary machinery spaces
Navy Ships with Documented Asbestos
Virtually every Navy ship built before 1980 contained asbestos. Categories with especially heavy exposure include:
- World War II-era ships (cruisers, destroyers, battleships, aircraft carriers)
- Korean War and Vietnam War-era vessels
- Submarines of the Cold War era (especially those built in the 1950s and 1960s)
- Support ships (tenders, oilers, supply ships)
- Amphibious vessels (LSTs, LSDs, LHAs)
VA Benefits for Navy Veterans
Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are typically rated at 100% disability by the VA. VA benefits include monthly disability compensation, healthcare through VA facilities, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and dependents. Importantly, VA benefits can be received ALONGSIDE legal claims against asbestos companies — they are completely separate.
Legal Claims for Navy Veterans
Navy veterans can also pursue legal claims against the manufacturers of asbestos products used on Navy ships. These claims are NOT against the government — they target the private companies that supplied asbestos materials to the Navy. Over 60 asbestos trust funds hold more than \$30 billion specifically to compensate victims of asbestos exposure, including Navy veterans.