Navy Mesothelioma &
Asbestos Exposure

Fighting for U.S. Military Veterans Exposed to Asbestos in the Navy

The U.S. Navy has a long history of using asbestos in its ships, shipyards, and bases, exposing service members to this toxic mineral and putting them at risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other devastating asbestos-related diseases.

As a result, military veterans make up an alarming 30% of all mesothelioma claims filed across the country each year. 

Every sailor who served on a Navy vessel prior to the mid-1980s was likely exposed to asbestos in any number of ways.  Asbestos-containing thermal insulation was used throughout naval ships in, and on, steam piping, propulsion equipment, and mechanical equipment.  Further, boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, compressors, and steam traps, for example, were not only insulated but also utilized asbestos gaskets and packing on their seals and internal parts.  These asbestos products were located in boiler rooms, engineering spaces, living and sleeping quarters, corridors, and common areas.  A general lack of protective gear during this time further increased the danger of exposure to asbestos fibers that were inhaled or ingested unknowingly by sailors.  

While any individual can contract mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, those who served in the U.S. Navy are particularly vulnerable due to their direct, continual contact with asbestos during their service in confined spaces aboard ships. The effects of this contact can be seen in Navy veterans today who are suffering from mesothelioma cancer and other health problems related to their asbestos exposure decades ago, especially if they served before the military implemented regulations to reduce risks for new generations of service members. 

SWMW Law is a nationally recognized trial practice that’s recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for Navy veterans and other victims who developed serious diseases after being exposed to asbestos. If you have questions about your rights and legal options, we want to help.

Call (888) 422-8877 or contact us online to discuss your legal options today.

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How Were Navy Veterans Exposed to Asbestos?

Naval personnel, and particularly those performing maintenance and repair tasks on equipment, pipes, and fittings, were especially vulnerable to asbestos exposure due to its widespread use by the Navy in ships and shipyards. Asbestos was valued for its fireproofing properties and resilience against corrosion and was used across many applications and in a wide variety of industries, especially naval ships. 

Asbestos on Navy Ships

According to military records, nearly every ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy between 1930 and 1970 contained several tons of asbestos insultation. These ships – which included everything from aircraft carriers and auxiliary ships to battleships, cruisers, destroyers, minesweepers, submarines, and more – also contained tons of asbestos, such as insulation, fireproofing, gaskets, and packing in other components and equipment both above and below deck, such as turbines, boilers, pumps, valves, engines, bulkheads, deck coatings, and paint, to name just a few examples.

Sailors who served on these ships would have been exposed to high concentrations of deadly asbestos fibers, especially if they had jobs which required them to work directly with asbestos-containing materials or disturb those materials while conducting preventative maintenance or emergent repairs. And because the often-cramped confines and lack of air circulation on these vessels enabled asbestos particles to amass in areas where servicemen worked and rested, even sailors who did not directly handle asbestos were still likely exposed. 

Products on Navy ships that contained asbestos during this time:

  • Turbines
  • Generators
  • Compressors
  • Grinders
  • Engines and Motors
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Insulated Millboard and Paneling
  • Paint, Adhesives
  • Floor Tiles and Deck Covering

Asbestos on Navy Shipyards & Other Navy Property

Because asbestos-laden materials were pervasive in Naval ships, the toxic substance could also be found in abundance in Navy shipyards. Any U.S. Navy personnel who frequented or worked in these shipyards could have been exposed, with those who were involved in building, servicing, rehabilitating and overhauling, or decommissioning these ships facing the greatest exposure risks. 

The following Navy shipyards are just a few of the facilities that have documented cases of asbestos exposure:

In addition to shipyards, many other structures and property owned and used by the Navy contained asbestos. This included everything from the insultation, flooring, and ceiling tiles found in barracks and Naval bases to ground transportation and various equipment, machinery, and protective gear used and worn by service members. Navy service members who served abroad in countries with little to no asbestos regulations would have also faced exposure risks well into the 21st century.

What Our Clients Say About Working With SWMW Law

At SWMW Law, we’re more than legal advocates — we’re a source of support during the most difficult times in our clients’ lives. We’re proud to be trusted by families across the country, and even prouder to share what they have to say about working with us.

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  • “SWMW did an amazing job! They started the process with my father but during the process my father passed. They were so helpful when it came to us, his children, taking over in place of my dad. They answered every call and were extremely patient and supportive of us. They really did a great job with keeping us informed and educated. They fought for us. I would recommend them to anyone that hears the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. They will fight for you 100% of the way. Thank you SWMW Team for your support and patience! We truly appreciate all of you! – The Anderson’s”

    Cristina Anderson

  • I would personally like to thank you and your staff for how you’ve have helped me and my family with a bit of our loss. It doesn’t bring my dear wife back, but it helps relieve some of our daily stress as we push on. Thank you.

    Gregory U.

  • Everyone at SWMW Law have went above & beyond. They’ve been so compassionate & so very helpful. I really didn’t think I would be getting anything for my late husband. I feel like they have found every way possible to get something in the memory of my late husband. He didn’t deserve to pass the way he did, & SWMW Law are making sure his death wasn’t in vain. Ty you to Lyndsy & everyone who has put long hours into helping me. My deepest appreciation to you all.

    Jeanne M.

  • I cannot say enough wonderful things about the SWMW Law Firm. This firm has a team of amazing, smart and professional attorneys and staff. They really care about their clients and go above and beyond to obtain justice. If I could give them more than 5 stars I would!! Thank you all for your incredible work that you do!

    Nicole O.

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SWMW Law is dedicated to helping victims and families in the fight against corporations that care more about profits than people. Comprised of award-winning attorneys, our team has helped clients take on powerful defendants in courts across the country and has helped countless victims and families secure the justice and compensation they deserved. 

If you have questions about an asbestos claim involving work in the shipyard industry, call (888) 422-8877.

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Navy Occupations with the Highest Asbestos Exposure Risks

Because asbestos was used so abundantly and for so long by the Navy, nearly every Navy veteran who served in the 20th century was likely exposed. However, some Navy occupations faced greater exposure risks due to working directly with asbestos-containing materials and performing tasks and duties that were more likely to disturb asbestos.

Complete list of Navy MOS at high asbestos exposure risk

Navy jobs linked to asbestos exposure include:

  • Boatswain’s Mate
  • Welder
  • Shipfitter
  • Seaman
  • Communications Technician / Radioman
  • Hull Maintenance Technician

Civilians Exposed to Asbestos on Navy Ships

When the Navy eventually decommissioned and sold some of its aging ships, they frequently sent the vessels to ports and shipyards where workers were not equipped with the knowledge or expertise to appropriately handle asbestos-containing materials.

Unfortunately, this negligence caused a large number of civilians who worked at these facilities to be exposed to hazardous asbestos fibers while taking apart and reassembling the decommissioned vessels.

This exposure was especially dangerous because old asbestos materials become brittle over time and can release high concentrations of dust when disturbed. As a result, many of these civilians now suffer from mesothelioma and other diseases from their contact with asbestos.

How Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Mesothelioma in U.S. Navy Veterans

Navy veterans who served in the past five decades are in danger of developing mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer. This is because asbestos fibers, when present in the environment and inhaled or otherwise ingested, cause cellular damage over many years before later manifesting in a diagnosis of this dangerous condition.

Symptoms of mesothelioma often do not appear until decades after initial exposure, which makes detecting and treating the disease even more difficult. Those affected by this illness may suffer from extreme chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and coughing up blood, or fluid accumulation in the lungs. Therefore, it is important for Navy veterans who served in recent decades to be aware of these symptoms and get frequent medical screenings, as early detection can lead to a better prognosis.

Because the risks of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are so pronounced for Navy veterans, there are programs designed to monitor the health of former service members. This includes the Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program (AMSP), which was first established by the U.S. Navy in the late 1970s to monitor the health of service members and civilian personnel who had been exposed to asbestos. 

This program has proven invaluable for veterans who have encountered asbestos during their time in service, as it offers proactive medical care to diagnose mesothelioma early when more treatment options are available and provides a documented record of exposure that can assist them in getting VA benefits if they develop an asbestos-related illness. In addition to providing regular screenings and medical examinations, AMSP also provides educational resources on how to identify signs and symptoms of asbestos-related diseases and conducts research into asbestos exposure risks.

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Compensation for Mesothelioma Through Litigation

Outside of the standard VA claims, veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may pursue compensation from other sources. This includes:

  • Civil personal injury lawsuits brought against solvent companies responsible for producing asbestos products; and
  • Claims filed with asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established specifically to compensate victims of asbestos exposure.

Through these legal avenues, victims and families can recover financial compensation for damages such as past and future medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Navy veterans cannot sue the U.S. military or any government entity and may only file personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits against private companies that sold asbestos-laden materials to the Navy.

SWMW Law has extensive experience helping Navy veterans and their families pursue compensation through various means. If you have questions about your rights and legal options, we want to help.

Benefits Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of benefits to Navy veterans with mesothelioma and other diseases connected to asbestos exposure, including asbestos lung cancer.

These individuals are eligible for free health care at VA treatment centers throughout the nation, along with disability compensation to cover expenses not covered through VA healthcare. Moreover, veterans diagnosed with service-connected lung cancer or mesothelioma may be eligible for 100% service-connected disability, resulting in the highest level of monthly payments.

In addition to these benefits, survivors of veterans who passed due to an asbestos-related illness may also be eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) from the VA. This includes spouses who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma.

Eligible, honorably discharged Navy veterans may be able to file a claim and access some of the following benefits:

  • Aid and Attendance Payments (also known as “Household Benefits”)
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (death benefits)
  • Caregiver Benefits
  • Geriatric and Extended Care

Examples of Our Results

SWMW Law has successfully litigated asbestos cases in courts across the country and has recovered millions in compensation for workers and families harmed by occupational asbestos exposure. This includes petrochemical and refinery workers, industrial workers, and many others in at-risk occupations.

  • Settlement

    $2,171,187

    Laborer with Mesothelioma

    Ohio

  • Settlement

    $2,159,311

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Ohio

  • Settlement

    $1,908,967

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Colorado

  • Settlement

    $1,750,746

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Ohio

  • Settlement

    $1,726,897

    Navy/laborer with Mesothelioma

    Tennessee

  • Settlement

    $1,455,517

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Missouri

  • Settlement

    $1,369,773

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Oregon

  • Settlement

    $1,356,576

    Navy shipfitter with Mesothelioma

    Ohio

  • Settlement

    $1,217,500

    Navy/machine operator with Mesothelioma

    Missouri

  • Settlement

    $1,201,693

    Navy with Mesothelioma

    Louisiana

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