Military Exposure Overview

Military Asbestos Exposure Facts
What every veteran should know
Veterans Affected	30-33% of all mesothelioma cases
Highest Risk Branch	U.S. Navy (SMR 2.15)
VA Disability	$3,831/month (100% rating)
Avg. Settlement	$1 - $1.4 million
Peak Exposure Era	1940s - 1980s
Free Veteran Case Review →

Executive Summary

Military Exposure Overview provides comprehensive documentation of asbestos exposure patterns across all five branches of the United States Armed Forces. Veterans comprise 30-33% of all mesothelioma diagnoses in America despite representing only 7-8% of the population, making military service one of the strongest risk factors for developing this aggressive cancer. A landmark 65-year follow-up study of 114,000 atomic veterans found Navy personnel face the highest risk with an SMR of 2.15, while high-risk Navy ratings show an SMR of 6.47. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma qualify for VA disability benefits worth $3,831.30 monthly, plus trust fund claims averaging $250,000-$500,000 and legal settlements ranging from $1 million to over $11 million.

Key Facts: Military Asbestos Exposure

• Veteran Percentage: 30-33% of all U.S. mesothelioma cases occur in veterans (approximately 1,000 diagnoses annually)
• Risk Multiplier: Veterans are 3 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general population
• Peak Consumption: U.S. consumed over 700,000 tons of asbestos annually during Vietnam era, reaching 803,000 tons in 1973
• Navy Risk: Navy personnel have SMR of 2.15; high-risk ratings reach SMR of 6.47
• VA Benefits: 100% disability rating provides $3,831.30/month for single veterans, $4,044.91/month married
• Legal Compensation: Documented veteran verdicts range from $2.6 million to over $11 million
• Trust Funds: 60+ active trusts hold $30+ billion; average combined recovery $250,000-$500,000 per claimant
• Processing Time: VA claims average 146.4 days; trust fund claims typically 90-180 days

---

✓ Good News for Veterans: Mesothelioma qualifies for presumptive service connection with the VA. This means the VA assumes your cancer is service-related without requiring you to prove specific exposure incidents—significantly streamlining the claims process.

Why Do Veterans Face Higher Mesothelioma Risk?

Veterans are approximately three times more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to the general population. This dramatic disparity stems from the military's extensive use of asbestos in virtually every aspect of operations from the 1930s through the early 1980s. Asbestos was considered an ideal material for military applications because of its heat resistance, durability, and low cost.

"The evidence we've seen over decades of representing veterans consistently shows that military asbestos exposure was pervasive and often unavoidable," explains Paul Danziger of Danziger & De Llano. "Service members had no choice about where they served or what materials surrounded them. The companies that supplied asbestos products to the military knew the dangers but prioritized profits over the health of those who served."

The military used asbestos in ships, aircraft, vehicles, buildings, and equipment. During the peak consumption years of the Vietnam era, the United States consumed over 700,000 tons of asbestos annually, reaching an all-time high of 803,000 tons in 1973. Much of this material found its way into military applications where service members worked in close proximity to asbestos-containing products daily.

How Does Risk Vary by Military Branch?

A landmark 65-year follow-up study of 114,000 atomic veterans who participated in nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 1962 provides the most reliable comparative data on mesothelioma risk by branch. The study calculated Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) that reveal significant differences in risk based on service branch.

Branch	SMR (Mesothelioma)	Risk Level	Primary Exposure Sources
U.S. Navy	2.15 (High-risk ratings: 6.47)	Highest	Ships, shipyards, engine rooms, boiler rooms
U.S. Coast Guard	5.07 (shipyard workers)	Very High	Cutters, shipyards, Curtis Bay facility
U.S. Air Force	0.85	Moderate	Aircraft maintenance, base facilities, ICBM sites
U.S. Marines	0.75	Moderate	Navy ships, vehicles, aircraft, base facilities
U.S. Army	0.45	Lower Overall	Vehicles, base facilities, construction

These SMR values demonstrate that Navy personnel faced dramatically elevated risk due to continuous shipboard exposure in poorly ventilated spaces. However, individual risk within any branch depended heavily on specific occupation and duty assignment.

U.S. Navy: Why Is Risk Highest?

The U.S. Navy has the highest documented mesothelioma rate among all military branches. Navy personnel are twice as likely to develop mesothelioma compared to the general population, and approximately one-third of all Americans with asbestos-related diseases served in the Navy.

ℹ Key Statistic: The Navy used over 300 million pounds of asbestos between 1940 and 1970, with more than 3,300 vessels containing asbestos materials. Every major ship class incorporated asbestos extensively.

The VA has classified 18 Navy ratings as having "Highly Probable" asbestos exposure, including:

• BT - Boiler Technician
• DC - Damage Controlman
• EN - Engineman
• MM - Machinist's Mate
• HT - Hull Maintenance Technician
• IC - Interior Communications Electrician
• WT - Water Tender
• MR - Machinery Repairman
• GSE/GSM - Gas Turbine Systems Technician

"Navy veterans often tell us they remember the white dust that covered everything below decks," notes Rod De Llano. "They didn't know at the time that dust was asbestos fibers that would stay in their lungs for decades. The ships were floating asbestos environments, and the men who served on them had no way to avoid exposure."

For comprehensive information on Navy-specific exposure, see our detailed guides on Navy vessels and shipyard exposure.

U.S. Army: What Are the Primary Exposure Sources?

While the Army has the lowest overall SMR (0.45) among military branches, individual soldiers in certain occupations faced substantial risk. The Army's ground-based operations resulted in different exposure patterns than naval service, but asbestos was still pervasive in vehicles, buildings, and equipment.

High-Risk Army Occupations

Unlike the Navy, the VA has not created official MOS exposure classifications for Army veterans. However, these occupations carry documented elevated risk:

• 91B - Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (brake pads, clutches, gaskets)
• 12B - Combat Engineer (demolition, construction)
• 88M - Motor Transport Operator
• Construction engineers and carpenters
• HVAC technicians
• Boiler technicians
• Aircraft mechanics

Army Bases with Documented Asbestos Contamination

Multiple Army installations have documented asbestos contamination requiring ongoing remediation:

Installation	Status	Notable Facts
Fort Bragg, NC	Active remediation	1,200 soldiers relocated from asbestos barracks (2022)
Fort Lewis, WA	EPA Superfund Site	100+ structures with asbestos as of 2019
Fort Hood, TX	Completed demolition	150+ WWII-era buildings demolished (2012)
Fort Benning, GA	Ongoing monitoring	Extensive WWII-era construction
Fort Sill, OK	Active management	Certified asbestos inspectors on staff

Army Vehicles with Asbestos

All military vehicles manufactured before the early 1980s contained asbestos in brake pads, clutches, gaskets, heating systems, and engine components. Documented vehicles include:

• M48/M60 Patton tanks - Engine and exhaust manifold insulation, transmission and brake linings
• M1 Abrams (early versions) - Various heat-resistant components
• M113 Armored Personnel Carriers
• M109 Self-Propelled Howitzers
• Jeeps, trucks, ambulances, and buses

Vehicle mechanics who performed brake and clutch work faced particularly high exposure as these repairs released concentrated asbestos fibers directly into the breathing zone.

U.S. Air Force: Where Did Exposure Occur?

The Air Force SMR of 0.85 shows no statistically significant elevation in mesothelioma risk overall. However, aircraft mechanics and personnel at contaminated bases faced substantial individual exposure.

Air Force Bases with Documented Contamination

Several Air Force installations have required extensive asbestos remediation:

Base	Status	Remediation Details
George AFB, CA	Closed 1992	40% of facilities had asbestos; Air Force paid $113 million for cleanup
Burns AFB, OR	Cleanup completed 2011	20.5 tons of friable asbestos and 357 tons of debris removed
Plattsburgh AFB, NY	Closed	Extensive contamination in hangars and maintenance facilities
Ellsworth AFB, SD	Federal Superfund Site	Asbestos in multiple facility types; ongoing monitoring
Tinker AFB, OK	Active base	Repaired 2,000+ aircraft; extensive historical exposure

Aircraft with Asbestos

Military aircraft manufactured before the 1980s used asbestos extensively in brakes, engine gaskets, electrical insulation, and heat shields. Aircraft brake systems typically contained 16-23% asbestos by composition.

Documented aircraft with asbestos components include:

• B-52 Stratofortress
• F-4 Phantom
• C-130 Hercules
• SR-71 Blackbird
• KC-135 Stratotanker
• A-10 Thunderbolt

ICBM Facilities

Air Force personnel who worked in Minuteman and Titan missile facilities faced unique exposure conditions. Underground launch control centers and silos contained materials with 15-50% asbestos composition in confined spaces with limited ventilation.

U.S. Marines: How Does Dual Exposure Occur?

Marines face a unique exposure pattern because they served both on Navy ships and in ground-based operations. The overall SMR of 0.75 reflects this mixed exposure profile, but individual Marines in certain roles faced substantial risk.

Shipboard Exposure

Prior to 1998, entire Marine Detachments (MARDETs) deployed on Navy vessels, exposing Marines to the same shipboard asbestos environment as Navy sailors. Marines living in berthing areas, working in shipyards, and traveling on Navy ships experienced significant exposure.

Marine Corps Bases with Documented Contamination

Installation	Status	Notable Facts
Camp Lejeune, NC	Active base	700+ sq ft asbestos floor tiles found (2018); water contamination also documented
Camp Pendleton, CA	EPA Superfund Site	125,000 acres; 36,000 personnel potentially affected
MCAS Yuma, AZ	Active remediation	Asbestos soil contamination up to 1 foot deep
MCAS Tustin, CA	2023 incident	Hangar fire spread asbestos debris within 3-mile radius
Parris Island, SC	Historic buildings	WWII-era construction with asbestos materials

Deployed Exposure: Vietnam Through Afghanistan

Marines deployed to combat zones faced additional asbestos exposure from damaged buildings, repair facilities, and burn pits:

• Vietnam: Repair shops with asbestos-containing machinery; battle vehicles with asbestos parts
• Gulf War: Buildings with asbestos materials; burn pits in Kuwait
• Iraq/Afghanistan: Countries lacking asbestos regulations; 54-67% of Iraq bases and 59-71% of Afghanistan bases still had burn pits during 2011-2013 despite prohibition

⚠ Burn Pit Exposure: Over 141,000 veterans have formally reported health conditions from burn pit exposure. Many burn pits contained asbestos-containing materials, creating additional exposure pathways for service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. Coast Guard: What Makes Exposure Unique?

Coast Guard personnel who worked on ships and in shipyards faced exposure patterns similar to Navy personnel. The Curtis Bay Shipyard study of 4,702 civilian workers (1950-1964) documented an SMR of 5.07 for mesothelioma—one of the highest documented rates for any occupational group.

Workers employed at Curtis Bay for 10 or more years were 33% more likely to die from mesothelioma than those with shorter tenure.

Coast Guard Cutters with Asbestos

Over 300 Coast Guard cutters built between the 1930s and 1991 contained asbestos materials. The Coast Guard officially stopped using asbestos in new cutters in 1991, but legacy asbestos remains in older vessels still in service.

Affected cutter classes include:

• Hamilton-class high endurance cutters
• Medium endurance cutters
• Polar-class icebreakers
• Patrol boats (pre-1991)

High-Risk Coast Guard Ratings

• MK - Machinery Technician
• DC - Damage Controlman
• EM - Electrician's Mate
• Shipyard workers
• Ship maintenance personnel

What Compensation Can Veterans Receive?

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can pursue multiple compensation sources simultaneously. These sources are independent—receiving VA benefits does not reduce eligibility for legal settlements or trust fund claims.

VA Disability Benefits

Mesothelioma qualifies for 100% disability rating from the VA, providing substantial monthly payments:

• Single veterans: $3,831.30/month (2025 rates)
• Married veterans: $4,044.91/month
• Additional allowances for dependents

VA claims processing averages 146.4 days as of January 2025.

Legal Settlements and Verdicts

Veterans have secured substantial legal compensation through lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers:

Branch	Case Details	Amount
Air Force	Arizona veteran	$11+ million
Navy	Massachusetts family	$9.3 million
Army	Maryland heavy equipment operator	$5.31 million
Navy	Indiana boiler room repairman	$4.42 million
Army	Ohio construction worker	$4.35 million
Army	Colorado veteran	$3.4 million
Marines	Virginia insulator	$2.6 million

Average settlements range from $1 million to $1.4 million, while trial verdicts average $2.4 million to $20.7 million.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion in compensation funds. Veterans can typically file claims against multiple trusts, with average combined recovery of $250,000-$500,000 per claimant.

See our complete trust fund guide for detailed information on available trusts and filing procedures.

How Do Veterans Prove Military Asbestos Exposure?

ℹ Important: Veterans do not need to prove a specific exposure incident to receive VA benefits. The VA uses a probability-based system that considers your service branch, MOS/rating, duty stations, and service dates.

Documentation That Strengthens Claims

Documents you should gather:

• DD-214 (discharge papers)
• Service records showing duty stations and assignments
• Medical records with mesothelioma diagnosis
• Personnel records listing MOS/rating
• Ship assignments or base assignments

Documents attorneys can obtain:

• Asbestos product identification records
• Company internal documents showing knowledge of hazards
• Historical exposure documentation for your duty stations
• Expert witness reports connecting exposure to disease

"We've helped thousands of veterans document their exposure," explains Michelle Whitman of Danziger & De Llano. "Even when service records are incomplete, we can often establish exposure through ship records, base environmental reports, and testimony from fellow service members. The key is working with attorneys who understand both military service and asbestos litigation."

Special Populations: Who Else Is Affected?

Women Veterans

Women veterans faced the same asbestos exposure as men in similar occupations. Myra Harwood, a Navy veteran who served at Pearl Harbor from 1978-1985, developed mesothelioma and successfully pursued compensation after documenting her exposure to asbestos dust throughout her naval facilities.

No comprehensive studies exist on gender-specific mesothelioma rates among veterans, but women who served in contaminated facilities face the same disease risk as male veterans.

Reserve and National Guard

Weekend drill exposure at armories and training facilities created asbestos risk for Reserve and Guard members. The 9/11 toxic dust cloud demonstrated that even single exposure events can cause mesothelioma—a 2022 American Cancer Society study found that 9 individuals developed mesothelioma after 9/11 exposure alone.

Military Families

Family members living on military bases or with service members faced secondary exposure through:

• Asbestos fibers carried home on uniforms, shoes, and equipment
• Contaminated base housing (a 2020 DoD Inspector General report found "systematic deficiencies" in asbestos management)
• Environmental exposure from deteriorating base structures

Families may qualify for VA survivor benefits and can pursue independent legal claims against asbestos manufacturers.

What Should Veterans Do Next?

🛡️ Free Veteran Case Review Veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for VA benefits, legal settlements, and trust fund compensation totaling $1 million or more. Get Your Free Case Review → 📞 Call (866) 222-9990 • No fees unless you recover compensation

Related Resources

Resource	What You'll Learn
Veterans Benefits	Complete guide to VA disability, DIC, and healthcare benefits
Navy Ships Asbestos Database	Vessel-specific exposure documentation
Navy Occupational Ratings	MOS/rating exposure analysis
Asbestos Trust Funds	How to access $30+ billion in available compensation
Statute of Limitations by State	Critical filing deadlines for your state

References

---

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Consult qualified professionals for guidance specific to your situation.

Last updated: January 2026