Navy Veterans and Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos

The United States Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch, putting many veterans at risk of lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases later in life. Lung cancer is serious but affected Navy veterans may qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and legal compensation to help pay for the treatments they need.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: October 1, 2024

Top Topics:

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Navy Asbestos Exposure
VA Benefits for Navy Veterans
Asbestos Lawsuits

U.S. Navy Veterans and Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks

If you or a loved one served in the U.S. Navy, you may be at a higher risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancer.

Between the 1930s and early 1980s, the U.S. Navy used asbestos-containing products aboard nearly all of its ships, as well as on many bases and other structures.

Though asbestos helped keep naval vessels and bases fireproof and insulated, anyone exposed could develop lung cancer 10-50 years later. Navy veterans are at an even higher risk of lung cancer if they smoked cigarettes and were exposed to asbestos.

Manufacturers knew the dangers of asbestos-based products but didn’t warn Navy service members or the public for decades. As a result, thousands of U.S. veterans develop asbestos-related diseases every year.

Lung Cancer Group can help U.S. Navy veterans with lung cancer pursue compensation to cover the costs of treatments and other expenses.

Get started now with our Free Lung Cancer Guide.

Navy Veterans and Mesothelioma Risks

In addition to lung cancer, U.S. Navy veterans are at risk of several other asbestos-related diseases, most notably mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen, lungs, heart, or testicles.

About 33% of mesothelioma diagnoses in veterans are connected to Navy ships and shipyards where asbestos was heavily used.

Other asbestos-related illnesses Navy veterans are at risk of include:

Asbestosis (a serious lung disease)
Colon cancer
Gallbladder cancer
Liver cancer
Prostate cancer

Call (877) 446-5767 for help pursuing the financial compensation you deserve if you or a loved one developed an asbestos-related illness after serving in the U.S. Navy.

Navy Veterans and Asbestos Exposure

Between the 1930s and early 1980s, the U.S. Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch in its ships, bases, and buildings.

Hundreds of different products and materials that the Navy used contained asbestos to help with durability and fireproofing.

Asbestos-containing products used by the U.S. Navy include:

Bedding compounds
Boilers
Cable covers
Caulking for joints or floor tiles
Gaskets
Insulation
Paneling
Piping
Valves

When these parts were installed, eroded, or disturbed in any way, asbestos fibers could break off and enter the air, where nearby Navy personnel could inhale them.

Navy Ships That Used Asbestos

Due to U.S. government mandates, virtually every U.S. Navy ship used asbestos-containing materials between the 1930s and early 1980s. This meant that thousands of ships were built with this cancer-causing substance.

Types of Navy vessels that used asbestos included:

Aircraft carriers
Ammunition and explosive freighters
Auxiliary and escort ships
Battleships
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates
Minesweepers
Oilers and tankers
Submarines

Asbestos products like insulation, gaskets, and boilers were used throughout naval ships. As U.S. Navy sailors worked to repair, install, and replace these parts, they may have come in contact with these tiny fibers, putting them at risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer later in life.

U.S. Navy ships had poor ventilation. Asbestos fibers could remain in the air and circulate throughout the ships, putting more people at risk.

Get a free case review now to see if we can help you access compensation and VA benefits if you developed lung cancer or mesothelioma from serving on a Navy ship.

Navy Veterans and Asbestos Risks in Shipyards

Over 100 shipyards in 11 states used asbestos. U.S. Navy shipbuilders and shipyard workers handled asbestos-containing materials daily while working on these ships.

Did You Know?

It’s believed that 4.5 million people were exposed to asbestos in shipyards during World War II alone, according to The New York Times.

As a result, those who served in Navy shipyards before the early 1980s are at a very high risk of asbestos-related lung cancer.

Navy Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure

U.S. Navy veterans may have been at a higher risk of asbestos exposure depending on which rates (jobs) they held.

Navy jobs that exposed veterans to asbestos included:

Boiler technicians: Navy ship boilers relied on many asbestos products like insulation. Boiler rooms were often cramped, meaning fibers could linger in the air for long periods of time.
Pipefitters: Miles of pipe throughout Navy ships were insulated with asbestos, which could have been easily disturbed while pipefitters worked.
Other jobs: Electricians, engine room workers, hull technicians, machinist’s mates, and welders were just a few of the many other Navy jobs that came with a high risk of asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma.

“I was a boiler tender when I went aboard my first ship and started doing my first job. I asked them what material it was made out of and they told me it was asbestos. It didn’t kill anybody on the spot, that’s for sure, but it took years later when it started catching up with us.”

— Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

We can help determine if your Navy job exposed you to asbestos and led to your lung cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis. Contact us now.

Secondhand Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

If a Navy service member’s family lived with them on or near a base or shipyard, they could’ve been at risk of secondhand asbestos exposure.

When service members handled or worked around asbestos-containing materials, fibers could stick to their clothing, hair, and shoes. When they returned home, their loved ones could come in contact with the asbestos, putting them at risk of lung cancer.

Compensation and Benefits for U.S. Navy Veterans With Lung Cancer

If you or a U.S. Navy veteran you love has developed lung cancer after asbestos exposure, we may be able to help you pursue compensation for medical bills and other expenses.

Lung cancer compensation options for U.S. Navy veterans include VA benefits, asbestos trust funds, and lawsuits. Learn about each below.

VA Benefits for U.S. Navy Veterans

The VA provides a number of benefits for eligible U.S. Navy veterans with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

Types of VA benefits for Navy veterans may include:

Disability compensation: The VA awards a 100% disability rating to veterans with active, service-connected cancers. U.S. Navy veterans who are married could receive nearly $4,000 a month in disability compensation with this rating.
Survivor benefits: These provide support for family members of Navy veterans who may have passed away due to asbestos-related illnesses. They include monthly payouts and funeral reimbursements.
VA health care: Navy veterans can access free or low-cost lung cancer screenings and treatments from top doctors through the VA health care system.
Other benefits: Veterans with lung cancer may qualify for monthly pensions, at-home care, and Aid and Attendance (A&A), along with many additional benefits.

Call (877) 446-5767 to find out if we may be able to help you pursue VA benefits or increase your disability rating after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Navy Asbestos Lawsuits and Settlements

U.S. Navy veterans who developed lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases may qualify to file lawsuits for compensation.

Asbestos settlements and verdicts our legal partners have secured include:

$40.1 million to a former U.S. Navy boiler tender with mesothelioma
$3 million to a woman with lung cancer
$2.7 million to a Navy veteran with mesothelioma
$2.18 million to an electrician with lung cancer
$2 million to a construction worker with lung cancer
$1.4 million to a U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

Neither the U.S. government nor the Navy is sued in an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit. Rather, lung cancer lawyers take legal action against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products that hid the risks.

In addition, filing a legal claim won’t impact a veteran’s ability to file for or collect VA benefits.

Get a free case review to learn if you’re eligible to file a mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuit.

Navy Veterans and Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

U.S. Navy veterans can pursue compensation for asbestos-related illnesses through trust funds in addition to filing a lawsuit or VA benefits claim.

Did You Know?

There is more than $30 billion available across dozens of asbestos trust funds, which were set up by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products.

Anyone who has developed asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma from using the products these companies made can file claims for compensation.

We Can Help Navy Veterans With Lung Cancer

Navy veterans made a tremendous sacrifice in serving our country. They should not have to navigate life after a lung cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis alone.

The patient advocates at Lung Cancer Group are here to walk with you and your family through a diagnosis and connect you with the helpful resources you deserve.

Work with our team to:

Get a better understanding of a lung cancer diagnosis
Learn if your cancer may be linked to asbestos exposure
Pursue claims to get financial compensation and justice

Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to see how we can help you or a family member.

Navy Veterans and Asbestos FAQs

Can veterans get compensation for asbestos?

Yes, U.S. Navy veterans may be able to get compensation for asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Navy veterans may qualify for monthly VA compensation, often worth nearly $4,000 a month, for either disease if the diagnosis can be linked back to U.S. military asbestos exposure.

Navy veterans can also pursue compensation by filing lawsuits against companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products. These lawsuits typically award $1 million or more, and veterans can still file for VA benefits, too.

When did the Navy stop using asbestos?

The U.S. Navy largely stopped using asbestos by the early 1980s when the dangers became fully understood. Major renovation efforts began removing asbestos from older ships and bases.

However, millions of U.S. Navy veterans had already been exposed to asbestos. These veterans are still at risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma today since these illnesses take 10-50 years to develop after exposure.

Can you sue the Navy for mesothelioma?

Our legal partners don’t sue the U.S. Navy for mesothelioma. Instead, they file lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products that hid the health risks for decades.

The average mesothelioma lawsuit awards over $1 million.

How do you prove asbestos exposure in the Navy?

If you served in the U.S. Navy between the 1930s and early 1980s, records listing when and where you served could help pinpoint asbestos exposure.

The Lung Cancer Group team can help you identify how you were exposed and see if you might qualify for compensation.

Is mesothelioma or lung cancer considered a VA disability?

Both mesothelioma and lung cancer could be considered VA disabilities if they can be connected to asbestos exposure during military service.

The VA typically rates mesothelioma and lung cancer as 100% disabilities. Married U.S. veterans can receive almost $4,000 a month through VA disability compensation with a 100% rating as of 2024.

Submit a free case review to see if we can connect you with a VA-accredited attorney to help with the claims process.