Why veterans are at higher risk
From the 1930s through the 1970s, the U.S. military used asbestos extensively because it was cheap, durable, and fire resistant. It was built into ships, aircraft, vehicles, and buildings on bases across the country.
The Navy used the most. Asbestos insulated boilers, engines, steam pipes, and turbines below deck — often in tight spaces with poor ventilation. Sailors, shipyard workers, and repair crews breathed in fibers every day. Veterans of every branch, however, may have been exposed.
High-risk military jobs
Navy
Boiler technicians, machinist's mates, hull technicians, pipefitters, and anyone stationed below deck.
Army
Vehicle mechanics working on brakes and clutches, construction and demolition crews.
Air Force
Aircraft mechanics, and personnel in buildings with asbestos insulation.
Marines & Coast Guard
Shipboard duty, vehicle maintenance, and base construction.
VA benefits for mesothelioma
The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as service-connected when they're linked to military exposure. Benefits can include:
- Disability compensation. Mesothelioma is generally rated at 100% while the cancer is active. In 2026, a 100% rating pays $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents, with more for a spouse or children.
- VA health care, including access to VA cancer specialists.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and dependents if a veteran passes away from a service-connected illness.
Rate shown is the VA's 2026 rate (effective December 1, 2025) for a veteran alone. Rates are adjusted each year.
Asbestos claims are filed against the companies that manufactured asbestos products — not the U.S. military or government. You can pursue VA benefits and asbestos claims at the same time.
Asbestos claims for veterans
In addition to VA benefits, many veterans qualify for:
Asbestos trust funds
Many trusts pay veterans exposed to their products aboard ships and on bases. How trusts work →
Personal injury lawsuits
Against manufacturers still in business. Mesothelioma claims →
Many veterans also worked in civilian jobs with asbestos after service — shipyards, construction, power plants. That exposure counts too.
What records help a veteran's claim
- DD-214
Your discharge papers show your branch, dates of service, and job specialty.
- Service and assignment history
Ships, bases, and units you served on or in.
- Medical records
Pathology confirming the diagnosis, plus VA or private treatment records.
- Civilian work history
Jobs before and after the military where exposure may have happened.
Don't have your records? Your legal team or a VA-accredited representative can help request them.
Find out what you qualify for. Free and confidential — we'll guide you through both VA and asbestos claims.
