Mesothelioma and U.S. Navy Veterans

U.S. Navy veterans are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. Products containing asbestos could be found on Navy vessels and the shipyards where they were built. Navy veterans with mesothelioma may be eligible for VA benefits and compensation. See if we can help you or a loved one access the money you’re owed.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and justice from the asbestos companies that caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

$40 million for a U.S. Navy veteran and boiler tender in Washington
$2.4 million to the family of a U.S. Army veteran from California
$2.9 million for a U.S. Air Force veteran in South Carolina

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Nov 27, 2024

Navy Asbestos Exposure and the Risk of Mesothelioma

Up until the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy used asbestos-containing products in ships, bases, vehicles, and other assets. Navy veterans who served during that time were likely exposed to asbestos and face a high risk of mesothelioma today as a result.

Key Facts About Mesothelioma in the Navy

Asbestos diseases take 10-50 years to develop, so many Navy veterans are just now being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
About 33% of mesothelioma cases have been linked to asbestos exposure in the U.S. Navy or shipyards.
Navy veterans with mesothelioma typically qualify for disability payments of nearly $4,000 per month from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Victims may be eligible for compensation from legal claims worth over $1 million on average.

Many asbestos product manufacturers knew of the health hazards but kept quiet to protect their profits. By filing a mesothelioma lawsuit, veterans can fight back and seek compensation for their medical expenses, everyday living expenses, and more.

“What convinced me to carry on with a lawsuit was when I was informed I wasn’t suing the government, I wasn’t suing the U.S. Navy. I was suing the manufacturer. I got mad then. Because they knew, many years prior, what asbestos would do to a human.”

– Walter Twidwell, a U.S. Navy veteran who worked with our partner firm

LawFirm.com works with mesothelioma lawyers who have secured over $9.6 billion for veterans and civilians impacted by this disease.

Get a free case review now to see if a top mesothelioma attorney may be able to fight hard for everything you deserve.

Navy Asbestos Settlement & Verdict Amounts

Mesothelioma Navy settlements and verdicts award between $1 million and $11.4 million on average. This life-changing compensation has helped many families with the costs related to this cancer.

Mesothelioma Navy settlements and verdicts secured by our legal partners include:

$40 million to a U.S. Navy veteran diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma
$10.2 million on behalf of a U.S. Navy veteran and boiler tender
$9.3 million for a U.S. Navy veteran from Massachusetts
$5.5 million to a mechanic and U.S. Navy veteran
$3.5 million for a U.S. Navy pipefitter and insulator
$2 million to an officer in the U.S. Navy from Maine
$3.87 million for a Connecticut auto mechanic who served in the U.S. Navy
$3.1 million to a union sheet metal worker and U.S. Navy veteran
$4.42 million for an Indiana boiler room repairman in the U.S. Navy
$4 million on behalf of a veteran who worked at a Massachusetts shipyard
$9.9 million for a boiler tender in the U.S. Navy

While case values may vary, a mesothelioma lawyer will fight to secure maximum compensation for their clients as quickly as possible.

In most cases, veterans can access compensation for mesothelioma in the Navy without going to court, speeding up the payout timeline.

Call (866) 447-8466 right now or chat with a case manager to see if we can help you pursue the money you deserve.

Types of Mesothelioma Navy Compensation

Filing a U.S. Navy asbestos claim can hold negligent product manufacturers accountable for the harm they’ve caused while providing victims with compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Navy veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis may qualify for compensation.

Find out more about the different types of mesothelioma claims that have helped many veterans afford life-extending treatments and provide for their families.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Companies that made asbestos products and later filed for bankruptcy were ordered to set up asbestos trust funds to compensate those harmed.

Today, there’s an estimated $30 billion still available in 60+ mesothelioma trust funds. Navy veterans with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases typically qualify for money from multiple trusts, increasing their total payout.

Veterans can file trust fund claims from the comfort of their own homes and are often able to start accessing compensation within 90 days.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Navy veterans and their family members may also be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit with the help of an experienced lawyer.

Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed against the companies that made, sold, and distributed asbestos products — not the U.S. Navy or the government. Filing a lawsuit does not affect a veteran’s ability to collect VA benefits.

Navy veterans and their family members may also be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. These lawsuits usually result in out-of-court mesothelioma settlements, which award over $1 million on average.

If a Navy veteran passes away, their loved ones may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit and seek justice on their behalf.

Get a free case review now to see if you may be eligible for compensation from a Navy asbestos lawsuit.

How to Seek Compensation for Mesothelioma in Navy Veterans

A diagnosis of mesothelioma from Navy asbestos exposure can be physically, emotionally, and financially stressful for veterans and their entire families.

A mesothelioma lawyer will work to make filing a claim for compensation as easy and stress-free as possible.

The basic steps involved in seeking mesothelioma Navy compensation include:

Determining if you have a case: LawFirm.com offers free case reviews, so you can see if an asbestos lawyer may be able to file mesothelioma Navy claims on your behalf.
Gathering evidence: Your attorney and their team will collect evidence to show how you were exposed to asbestos in the Navy. This proof may include your medical records and military documents.
Filing your asbestos claims: After identifying all of the claims you qualify for, your mesothelioma lawyer will file the paperwork before any deadlines or statutes of limitations.
Accessing payouts: In many cases, payouts for mesothelioma in Navy veterans start arriving in 90 days or less.

If the rare event that your claim doesn’t settle, your attorney can present your mesothelioma case in court and continue fighting for compensation from a trial verdict.

VA Benefits for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

In addition to compensation from lawsuits and trust fund claims, Navy veterans with mesothelioma and their family members may be entitled to benefits offered by the VA.

U.S. Navy veterans with mesothelioma typically receive a 100% disability rating, allowing them to access almost $4,000 a month in compensation.

Other mesothelioma VA benefits for veterans and their relatives can include:

Aid & Attendance
Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Funeral and burial reimbursement
Free or low-cost VA health care
Housebound benefits
Military headstone and funeral honors
Spouse and dependent children benefits
Survivor pension

LawFirm.com works with VA-accredited attorneys who can help you or a loved one apply for all the benefits you qualify for — free of charge.

Call (866) 447-8466 right now to get started filing VA claims for mesothelioma Navy veterans benefits.

Asbestos in the Navy: Sources of Exposure

Like other U.S. military branches, the Navy used asbestos products to build and maintain ships, barracks, and vehicles. In the process, millions of service members were exposed to this dangerous mineral.

“For our veterans, there is a strong likelihood that you had exposure to asbestos products while serving our country. That’s certainly true of the majority of our naval veterans.”

– Ricky A. LeBlanc, attorney at Sokolove Law & LawFirm.com legal expert

Mesothelioma and Navy Veterans Who Served on Ships

Asbestos is strong, lightweight, and an effective fireproofing material. While the mineral was used to protect naval vessels and help them stay afloat, it posed a danger to the sailors who came in contact with it.

Every kind of U.S. Navy ship contained asbestos, including:

Aircraft carriers
Amphibious warfare ships
Auxiliary ships
Battleships
Corvettes
Cruisers
Cutters
Destroyers
Frigates
Hospital ships
Patrol boats
Submarines

Did you know?

A vessel’s cramped quarters and poor ventilation allowed asbestos fibers to stay in the air for hours, increasing the risk of exposure to those onboard.

While asbestos could be found throughout Navy ships, some areas contained more asbestos than others, increasing the risk of mesothelioma in Navy veterans. High-risk areas for asbestos exposure on Navy ships

Engine rooms, boiler rooms, and pump rooms, for example, contained many asbestos-containing products, endangering Navy veterans who worked in these areas.

See if the ship you served on had asbestos onboard — use our U.S. Navy ships list now.

Other Ways Navy Veterans Were Exposed

Navy personnel may have also been exposed to asbestos from other sources, like Navy barracks, vehicles, and shipyards.

Other sources of Navy asbestos exposure include:

Navy bases: Asbestos resisted high temperatures, so Navy bases were often built using asbestos products like pipes, roofing, and floor tiles.
Navy vehicles and aircraft: The use of asbestos in plane and auto parts helped resist friction and heat. Navy veterans who worked on these assets or operated them may have been exposed.
Navy shipyards: Shipbuilding facilities were riddled with asbestos dust, potentially exposing workers and others on site.

When disturbed or damaged, asbestos breaks down into microscopic fibers that can be inhaled or ingested. They can get trapped inside the body and irritate healthy tissue, eventually leading to mesothelioma and other serious illnesses.

If you or a loved one served in the Navy and were affected, you may be eligible for compensation to help pay for your medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Get a free case review now to see if a top mesothelioma lawyer may be able to fight for you.

High-Risk Navy Asbestos Jobs

While all Navy veterans who served before the 1980s likely came in contact with asbestos, those who worked in jobs that required them to handle asbestos products daily faced the highest risk.

The chart below shows some of these high-risk jobs and the asbestos products that veterans in those roles may have worked with.

Navy job	Asbestos products handled
Boiler technicians	boilers, boiler tank insulation wraps, pipe insulation wraps, gaskets, valves, safety gloves
Construction workers	drywall, insulation, paint, tiles, flooring, piping, roofing materials
Electricians	cables, electric wiring
Machinist's mates	pumps, gaskets, valves
Pipefitters and plumbers	pipe, pipe insulation, joint compound
Shipbuilders and shipyard workers	insulation, paint, panels
Welders	protective gear, welding blankets

If you served your country while working a high-risk Navy job and now have mesothelioma, you may be eligible for VA benefits, health care, and legal compensation.

Mesothelioma in Navy Family Members

Navy veterans are not the only ones who may have been exposed to asbestos. Service members may have brought home asbestos dust on their clothes, unknowingly causing their loved ones to come in contact with the fibers.

Family members may have also experienced secondhand asbestos exposure if they lived on base. Potential sources of asbestos exposure include Navy housing, construction sites, and office buildings.

Get Help From Mesothelioma Lawyers for U.S. Navy Veterans

The brave Navy sailors who proudly served their country and put their lives on the line should have been protected from asbestos — not put in harm’s way.

If you or a loved one is a Navy veteran with mesothelioma, LawFirm.com may be able to help.

Work with our team to:

File for or increase your VA benefits
Learn about your treatment options
Pursue lawsuit compensation that awards $1+ million on average

Our partner mesothelioma law firms have secured over $9.6 billion for Navy families and others affected by this cancer.

Call (866) 447-8466 right now or get a free case review to see if a top mesothelioma lawyer may be able to help you, too.

Mesothelioma & Navy Veterans FAQs

Are Navy veterans still at risk of developing mesothelioma?

Yes, U.S. Navy veterans who served before the 1980s were likely exposed to asbestos and are still at risk of mesothelioma today.

It takes 10-50 years for asbestos-related illnesses to develop after exposure, so it’s not unusual for a veteran to be diagnosed with mesothelioma decades after coming in contact with asbestos.

Do Navy ships still have asbestos?

The Navy stopped using asbestos materials to build ships and other assets in the early 1980s after the health risks became public knowledge.

Older Navy vessels may still contain asbestos, but it’s either been removed or sealed so it can’t harm those onboard.

What is the VA rating for mesothelioma?

The VA disability rating for mesothelioma is 100%, making veterans with this cancer eligible for almost $4,000 a month in tax-free disability compensation.

LawFirm.com has partnered with VA-accredited attorneys who can help mesothelioma patients file for VA benefits or increase their current disability rating.

Get a free case review now to see if our team can help you get the compensation you deserve.

When was asbestos banned in the Navy?

The U.S. Navy stopped using asbestos on ships in the late 1970s but it wasn’t until about 1985 that it was completely eliminated.

During the 1970s, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sounded the alarm about the impact of asbestos on public health.

Some older Navy vessels may still have asbestos on board that’s been secured to protect service members.

Can you sue the Navy for mesothelioma?

While you can’t sue the Navy for developing mesothelioma, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the asbestos companies that made and sold the dangerous materials you were exposed to.

Many of these companies knew about the dangers of asbestos but hid the truth to protect their profits.

Law Firm.com has partnered with mesothelioma attorneys for Navy veterans with the resources to take on these companies and seek justice for those affected.

Call (866) 447-8466 now to learn about your legal options and see if we can connect you.