Navy Ships & Asbestos Exposure: Q&A With Jonathan Nelson, U.S. Veteran & Attorney

For much of the 20th century, virtually every U.S. Navy vessel in the fleet relied on products that contained asbestos, a cancer-causing material.

Asbestos is an excellent – and inexpensive – insulator, and it’s remarkably fireproof, so it was used throughout thousands of U.S. Navy vessels. Anyone serving at sea risked exposure.

As a result, U.S. Navy veterans now account for more mesothelioma cases than any other military branch.

Major Jonathan N. Nelson (USMC, Ret), our in-house veterans advocate and a VA-accredited attorney, understands how deeply asbestos exposure has affected Navy veterans. His wife’s grandfather died from mesothelioma after serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Below, Jonathan answers common questions about asbestos exposure in Navy ships, the risk of mesothelioma, and the support that’s available to veterans and their families.

Q: Why are veterans at risk of mesothelioma from Navy ships?

We see so many cases of mesothelioma among Navy veterans because asbestos was used throughout the Navy fleet for decades.

At one time, asbestos was considered a critical component for building Navy ships, so practically all the vessels that were constructed from the 1930s to the early 1980s used asbestos products to help with fireproofing, insulation, and soundproofing.

Navy service members stationed aboard these ships didn't know how asbestos could harm them. Yet many of them were breathing in dust laced with harmful asbestos fibers as they went about their military duties.

Q: How did asbestos exposure in Navy ships happen?

Anybody serving on a Navy ship risked exposure since the vessels were so cramped. Asbestos fibers kicked up during everyday maintenance had nowhere to go, so the air, particularly below deck, posed a general risk.

That said, many veterans I speak with worked with asbestos-containing products as part of their Navy job duties aboard the ships every day. Boilers, engine rooms, floor tiles, and electrical panels were just a few common sources of exposure to asbestos on Navy ships.

Navy shipyards were also hotbeds of exposure, as the work there involved removing asbestos-containing materials and installing new ones, clouding the yards with asbestos dust.

Unfortunately, Navy service members were never warned about the risks. Many of the companies that made asbestos products hid the truth. And since asbestos can cause mesothelioma 10 to 50 years down the line, those exposed long ago need to be keeping an eye out for this cancer now.

Q: How do I find the VA asbestos ship list?

There isn’t really a list of ships with asbestos that’s managed by the VA. It’s generally assumed that any Navy vessel built before the early 1980s had some asbestos-containing materials aboard.

However, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center has identified over 3,300 U.S. Navy ships that used asbestos-containing products, such as submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and many more.

If you’re facing mesothelioma, we can help pinpoint when, where, and how you may have been exposed, whether on Navy vessels or elsewhere on shore duty. Our team has access to extensive military and asbestos industry records that help us fill in the blanks based on your service history and the jobs you performed while on active duty.

Q: Did Navy ships in the 70s have asbestos?

Yes, U.S. Navy ships that were being built and used in the 1970s typically had asbestos products aboard.

By the end of the 1970s, asbestos-containing materials like insulation began to be phased out of new Navy vessels, but other asbestos-containing products, such as brakes, clutches, and electrical wiring, were still being used.

Navy shipyards also started to recommend increased protection for workers, largely due to greater awareness of the damaging health effects of asbestos.

But the sad reality is that many U.S. Navy service members, especially those serving on or repairing older vessels, were still in jeopardy of asbestos exposure through the 1970s.

Q: When was asbestos removed from Navy ships?

The majority of asbestos-containing materials were removed from American Navy ships and other assets throughout the 1980s and beyond, in keeping with growing awareness of asbestos's role in causing mesothelioma.

Today, only a very small handful of older Navy ships contain asbestos, and in these cases, it’s being monitored to ensure the safety of those aboard.

However, there’s no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma in veterans who were exposed aboard Navy ships before these renovations took place.

And since it takes decades for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure, many Navy veterans are just getting diagnosed today.

Q: What benefits are available after Navy asbestos exposure?

Navy veterans with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can access a lot of different benefits through the VA.

Some of the most notable mesothelioma VA benefits include monthly disability compensation, health care coverage, and financial support for survivors.

And when a veteran has service-connected mesothelioma, they usually qualify for a 100% disability rating, allowing them to get the most from their benefits package.

Many Navy veterans have questions or concerns about which benefits they may qualify for. As a VA-accredited attorney, I’m happy to help walk them through the benefits process for free.

Q: What happens in a Navy asbestos settlement?

Besides filing for VA benefits, veterans with mesothelioma may also be able to pursue legal settlements with the private manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

This process involves working with dedicated mesothelioma lawyers, who can help build and file a mesothelioma lawsuit on behalf of veterans without suing the military or the government.

The attorneys do the legwork for veterans and their families so they can focus on dealing with the day-to-day challenges of this cancer.

Their legal teams then typically will negotiate a strong Navy asbestos settlement, which can sometimes be worth millions of dollars.

Helping U.S. Veterans After Navy Ship Asbestos Exposure

U.S. Navy veterans who are now suffering from mesothelioma after asbestos exposure on board Navy vessels deserve our support and respect.

At the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, Major Nelson and the rest of our team can guide these veterans and their families to resources they need.

We’re ready to walk you through:

• Available VA benefits
• Key mesothelioma treatment options
• Other ways to receive compensation
• Support options to make life less stressful

Call (877) 450-8973 or ask Major Nelson your mesothelioma questions now to get started.