View source for Navy Asbestos Exposure

{{#seo:
|title=Navy Asbestos Exposure: Ships, Shipyards, Ratings & Veteran Compensation Guide
|description=Comprehensive guide to asbestos exposure in the U.S. Navy. SMR of 2.15, 18 Highly Probable ratings, 11+ shipyards, 300+ ship products, VA benefits ($3,938/month), and legal compensation options for Navy veterans.
|keywords=navy asbestos exposure, navy mesothelioma, navy ships asbestos, naval shipyard asbestos, navy veteran mesothelioma, navy asbestos claims, military asbestos exposure navy, navy boiler technician asbestos
|author=Larry Gates, Veterans Advocate
|published_time=2026-02-28
}}
__NOTOC__
{| class="infobox" style="width:280px; float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border:2px solid #1a5276; border-radius:8px; overflow:hidden;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center;" | Navy Asbestos Exposure
|-
| colspan="2" style="padding:10px; text-align:center; font-style:italic;" | Key facts for U.S. Navy veterans
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; width:40%; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Branch SMR
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''2.15''' (highest of all branches)
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | High-Risk SMR
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''6.47''' (boiler techs, pipefitters)
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Highly Probable Ratings
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 18 Navy ratings per VA matrix
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Probable Ratings
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 32 additional Navy ratings
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Shipboard Products
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 300+ asbestos-containing items
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | VA Disability Rating
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 100% for mesothelioma
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Monthly Compensation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | $3,938.58 (single, 2026)
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Peak Exposure Era
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Late 1930s–early 1980s
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | Major Shipyards
| style="padding:10px;" | 11+ with documented exposure
|-
| colspan="2" style="background:#1a5276; padding:10px; text-align:center;" | [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-veterans/ <span style="color:white; font-weight:bold;">Free Navy Veteran Case Review →</span>]
|}

'''Navy Asbestos Exposure''' documents the extensive use of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) throughout United States Navy vessels, shipyards, and shore installations from the late 1930s through the early 1980s. The Navy was the '''single largest consumer of asbestos''' in the U.S. military, using the mineral in virtually every vessel in its fleet.<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" /> A landmark 65-year follow-up study of over 114,000 atomic-era veterans found Navy personnel had a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of '''2.15''' for mesothelioma — more than double the general population — with high-risk ratings such as boiler technicians and pipefitters reaching an SMR of '''6.47'''.<ref name="boice-study" /> The Department of Veterans Affairs has classified '''18 Navy ratings as "Highly Probable"''' and an additional '''32 as "Probable"''' for asbestos exposure, covering nearly half of all Navy occupational specialties.<ref name="dandell-veterans" /> Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma qualify for '''VA disability benefits of $3,938.58 per month''' (2026 rate), [[Asbestos Trust Funds|asbestos trust fund]] claims, and civil lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos products supplied to the military.<ref name="va-rates" />

'''Navy asbestos exposure at a glance:'''

* '''SMR 2.15''' — Navy mesothelioma mortality rate more than double the general population; highest of all military branches<ref name="boice-pubmed" />
* '''SMR 6.47''' — high-risk Navy ratings (boiler technicians, firemen, water tenders, machinist's mates, pipefitters) more than six times the general population<ref name="boice-study" />
* '''18 Highly Probable ratings''' — VA classifies these Navy specialties as near-certain for asbestos exposure<ref name="mesovets-navy" />
* '''32 Probable ratings''' — additional Navy specialties with documented exposure risk<ref name="dandell-exposure" />
* '''300+ asbestos products''' — on ships built during the Korean and Vietnam War eras<ref name="mesonet-branches" />
* '''11+ major shipyards''' — with documented asbestos contamination, multiple on EPA Superfund list<ref name="mlc-mare-island" />
* '''$40.1 million''' — largest Navy veteran mesothelioma verdict (2025, Walter Twidwell v. Goodyear)<ref name="prnewswire-twidwell" />
* '''$3,938.58/month''' — VA disability compensation at 100% rating for single veterans with mesothelioma (2026)<ref name="va-rates" />
* '''60+ trust funds''' — with $30+ billion remaining for asbestos victims, many relevant to Navy exposure<ref name="dandell-trusts" />
* '''PACT Act (2022)''' — mesothelioma is now a presumptive condition for eligible veterans, streamlining VA claims<ref name="va-pact" />

== Key Facts ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Navy Asbestos Exposure Key Facts
|-
| style="padding:15px;" |
* '''Branch SMR:''' 2.15 for mesothelioma — the highest of any military branch (Army 0.45, Marines 0.75, Air Force 0.85)
* '''High-Risk SMR:''' 6.47 for boiler technicians, firemen, water tenders, machinist's mates, and pipefitters
* '''Highly Probable Ratings:''' 18 Navy ratings classified by the VA as near-certain for asbestos exposure
* '''Probable Ratings:''' 32 additional Navy ratings with documented asbestos exposure risk
* '''Shipboard Asbestos:''' Present in virtually every compartment — boiler rooms, engine rooms, berthing areas, mess decks, gun turrets, and sonar rooms
* '''Products:''' Over 300 distinct asbestos-containing products or parts on ships built during the Korean and Vietnam War eras
* '''Submarines:''' Required to contain asbestos from 1922; most confined spaces in the fleet, with no escape for fresh air during submerged operations
* '''Shipyards:''' 11+ major naval and private shipyards with documented asbestos exposure, including 4+ EPA Superfund sites
* '''Manufacturers:''' Johns-Manville, Babcock & Wilcox, Combustion Engineering, Foster Wheeler, Owens Corning, Garlock, and others supplied asbestos products to the Navy
* '''VA Benefits:''' 100% disability rating providing $3,938.58/month (single) or $4,158.17/month (married) in 2026
* '''Legal Compensation:''' Navy veteran mesothelioma settlements typically range from $1 million to over $40 million
* '''PACT Act:''' Signed August 10, 2022, establishing mesothelioma as a presumptive condition for toxic-exposed veterans
|}

== Why Were Navy Personnel Exposed to Asbestos? ==

The United States Navy became the largest military consumer of asbestos because the mineral's properties — heat resistance, fireproofing, electrical insulation, and durability — made it appear ideal for shipboard applications where fire was a constant threat.<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" /> In 1939, the U.S. classified asbestos as a "critical material" and began stockpiling it for military production. On January 20, 1942, President Roosevelt issued an executive order banning civilian use of asbestos, giving priority to merchant and Navy ship-building.<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" /> The Navy fleet grew from '''394 vessels in 1939 to nearly 7,000 in 1945''', each requiring enormous quantities of asbestos in insulation, gaskets, pipe lagging, floor tiles, and fireproofing materials.<ref name="vetalliance-ships" />

Unlike shore-based industrial workers who were exposed during 8-hour shifts and could leave contaminated environments, Navy sailors '''lived and worked aboard ship 24 hours a day''' in spaces insulated with asbestos on every surface.<ref name="mesonet-navy" /> Below-deck spaces — boiler rooms, engine rooms, and machinery compartments — had limited ventilation, trapping airborne fibers at concentrations far higher than equivalent shore-based facilities. Routine maintenance activities such as chipping paint, replacing gaskets, and repairing insulation released asbestos fibers in these enclosed spaces, exposing not just the workers performing the maintenance but everyone in adjacent compartments.<ref name="asbestos-ships-snipes" />

{| style="width:100%; border:1px solid #1a5276; border-left:5px solid #1a5276; border-radius:4px; margin:1em 0;"
|-
| style="padding:15px;" | "''Navy veterans account for the largest share of mesothelioma diagnoses among all military branches,''" explains [https://dandell.com/advocates/ Paul Danziger of Danziger & De Llano]. "''The combination of continuous exposure in confined shipboard spaces, hundreds of asbestos-containing products throughout every vessel, and decades of service before the dangers were acknowledged created conditions that no other branch matched. Every sailor who served before the 1980s was likely exposed.''"
|}

Veterans account for approximately '''30% of all U.S. mesothelioma diagnoses''' despite representing only about 7% of the population, and Navy veterans constitute the largest share of that veteran cohort.<ref name="vetbattle-asbestos" /><ref name="dandell-claims" /> The disease typically manifests '''15 to 60 years''' after initial exposure, meaning veterans who served in the 1960s and 1970s continue to be diagnosed today.<ref name="mesonet-navy" />

== Which Navy Ratings Had the Highest Exposure Risk? ==

The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a Duty MOS/Rating Probability of Exposure matrix for the Navy, documented in VBA Manual M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section I.3.d. This matrix classifies Navy ratings into four categories: '''Highly Probable''', '''Probable''', '''Minimal''', and '''Not Specified'''.<ref name="dandell-veterans" /><ref name="mesoveterans-org-presumptive" />

=== 18 Highly Probable Ratings ===

Veterans who served in any of these 18 ratings have their asbestos exposure effectively presumed when filing VA disability claims:<ref name="mesovets-navy" />

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Rating Code
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Full Name
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Primary Exposure Pathways
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''BT'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boiler Technician
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Operating and maintaining asbestos-insulated boilers, pipes, and valves in boiler rooms and engine rooms
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''BR'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boilermaker
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Repairing and replacing asbestos-insulated boiler components in fire rooms
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''B'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boilermaker (WWII era)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Direct handling of asbestos insulation, lagging, and gaskets on boilers
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''FN'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fireman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Operating and maintaining boilers and engineering plant equipment in boiler rooms and machinery spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''FP'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pipefitter
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Cutting, fitting, and replacing asbestos pipe insulation and gaskets throughout ship piping systems
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''WT'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Water Tender
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Operating water-tube boilers insulated with asbestos in boiler rooms and fire rooms
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''HT'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Hull Maintenance Technician
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Welding, cutting, and repairing around asbestos insulation in hull structures throughout the ship
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''IM'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Instrumentman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Repairing instruments surrounded by asbestos insulation in engine rooms and machinery spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''UT'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Utilitiesman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Installing and repairing utility systems (heating, plumbing) with asbestos materials at shore facilities
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''FC'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fire Controlman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Working around asbestos-insulated electronic fire control systems in weapons spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''FT'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fire Control Technician
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Maintaining fire control electronics with asbestos insulation in electronic spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''FTG'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fire Control Technician (Guns)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Gun fire control systems with asbestos components in gun turrets and fire control rooms
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''AQ'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Aviation Fire Control Technician
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Asbestos insulation on fire control electronics and gaskets in below-deck spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''SO'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Sonarman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Working in sonar spaces insulated with asbestos in below-waterline compartments
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''SoM'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Soundman
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Sound-dampened spaces lined with asbestos in below-deck acoustic compartments
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''ST'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Sonar Technician
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Maintaining sonar electronics in asbestos-insulated compartments
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''STG/SOG'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Sonar Technician (Surface)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Surface sonar systems with asbestos insulation in sonar rooms on surface ships
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | '''STS'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Sonar Technician (Submarine)
| style="padding:10px;" | Submarine sonar spaces — extremely confined and heavily insulated with asbestos
|}

=== 32 Probable Ratings ===

An additional 32 Navy ratings are classified as "Probable" for asbestos exposure, organized by specialty area:<ref name="dandell-veterans" />

'''Aviation Specialties (16):''' ABE, ABF, ABH, ACM, ADJ, ADR, AE, AM, AME, AMH, AMS, ARM, AS, AT, AW, AX<ref name="mlc-benefits" />

'''Construction and Engineering (4):''' BU (Builder), CD (Construction Driver), CE (Construction Electrician), CN (Constructionman)<ref name="mlc-veteran-claims" />

'''Ship Systems and Machinery (8):''' EM (Electrician's Mate), EN (Engineman), ET (Electronics Technician), GSM (Gas Turbine System Technician), IC (Interior Communication Technician), MM (Machinist Mate), MOMM (Motor Machinist Mate), MT (Missile Technician)<ref name="mesonet-navy" />

'''Specialized Technical (4):''' MLC (Molder), PTR (Painter), SW (Steelworker), TM (Torpedoman's Mate)<ref name="dandell-exposure" />

=== What About Minimal Risk Ratings? ===

The remaining approximately 60 Navy ratings — including administrative, medical, intelligence, and communications roles — are classified as "Minimal" exposure risk. However, the VA explicitly notes that asbestos exposure is "not exclusive to Naval Veterans" listed on the MOS matrix and "may have been incurred in occupational capacities that are not included on the MOS list."<ref name="mesoveterans-org-presumptive" /> Even sailors in minimal-risk ratings lived aboard ships insulated with asbestos and could file successful claims by documenting their proximity to asbestos-containing areas during service.<ref name="dandell-va-claims" />

== Where Was Asbestos Found on Navy Ships? ==

Asbestos was present in '''virtually every compartment''' of a Navy ship, though concentrations were highest in engineering and mechanical spaces below the waterline.<ref name="asbestos-ships-snipes" />

=== Ship Compartments and Exposure Levels ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Compartment
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Asbestos Materials Present
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Exposure Level
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boiler rooms / Fire rooms
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boiler insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, valve packing
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Extremely high'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Engine rooms
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Turbine lagging, pipe insulation, gaskets, pump packing
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Extremely high'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Machinery spaces
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Equipment insulation, gaskets, valve components
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Very high'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pipe chases
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pipe insulation throughout the ship
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''High'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Gun turrets / Weapons spaces
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fire control insulation, cable insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Moderate to high'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Sonar rooms
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Acoustic insulation, equipment insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Moderate to high'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Berthing areas
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bulkhead insulation, overhead insulation, deck tiles
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Moderate'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Mess decks
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Deck tiles, ceiling tiles, bulkhead insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Moderate'''
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Electrical spaces
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Wire insulation, arc chutes, relay insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Moderate'''
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | Galley / Laundry
| style="padding:10px;" | Equipment insulation, gaskets
| style="padding:10px;" | '''Moderate'''
|}

=== Types of Asbestos-Containing Materials ===

More than '''300 distinct products or parts''' on ships built during the Korean and Vietnam War eras contained asbestos. The most common materials included:<ref name="mesonet-branches" /><ref name="mesonet-submarines" />

* '''Pipe insulation:''' Felt coverings, pre-formed sections (products like Unibestos contained high percentages of amosite asbestos)<ref name="mesonet-navy" />
* '''Gaskets and packing:''' Compressed asbestos sheet gaskets on doors, hatches, valves, and flanges
* '''Boiler insulation:''' Asbestos block, blanket, and cement insulation on boiler walls and tubes<ref name="mesonet-foster-wheeler" />
* '''Turbine lagging:''' Asbestos wrap and insulating cement on steam turbines
* '''Deck tiles and flooring:''' Vinyl-asbestos floor tiles throughout living and working spaces
* '''Bulkhead insulation:''' Asbestos-containing panels and spray-on fireproofing
* '''Electrical wire insulation:''' Asbestos-wrapped wiring and cable insulation
* '''Valve components:''' Asbestos packing, stems, and seats in hundreds of valves per ship<ref name="asbestos-ships-snipes" />
* '''Fire blankets and curtains:''' Woven asbestos textile materials
* '''Adhesives and cements:''' High-temperature cements containing asbestos fibers

=== How Did Confined Spaces Amplify Exposure? ===

Shipboard asbestos exposure was dramatically amplified compared to open-air industrial settings:<ref name="mesonet-navy" /><ref name="pmc-shipyard-workers" />

* '''Poor ventilation below decks:''' Engine rooms, boiler rooms, and machinery spaces had limited air circulation, allowing fibers to accumulate to dangerous concentrations
* '''24/7 exposure:''' Sailors lived aboard ship — sleeping, eating, and working in spaces insulated with asbestos on every surface
* '''Confined quarters:''' Submarines and below-deck spaces on surface ships were extremely cramped, increasing fiber concentration per unit volume
* '''Routine maintenance:''' Chipping, scraping, and replacing insulation during underway periods released fibers in enclosed spaces with no fresh-air ventilation
* '''Battle damage repair:''' Emergency repairs during combat disturbed asbestos materials without any protective measures<ref name="dandell-claims" />

== Which Ship Classes Contained Asbestos? ==

Virtually every class of Navy vessel built between the 1930s and early 1980s contained asbestos-containing materials. For vessel-specific exposure documentation, see the [[Navy Ships Asbestos Database]].<ref name="vetalliance-ships" />

=== Major Ship Classes ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Ship Class
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Asbestos Use Level
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Key Details
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Aircraft carriers (CV/CVN)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Very heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Massive engineering plants, extensive insulation; USS Nimitz (CVN-68) still contains asbestos<ref name="asbestos-ships-nimitz" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Battleships (BB)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Very heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Large boiler plants, heavy pipe insulation throughout
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Cruisers (CA/CG)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Significant engineering spaces with asbestos insulation
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Destroyers (DD/DDG)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Over 300 destroyers built in WWII alone; nicknamed "tin cans"<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Destroyer escorts (DE)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Similar asbestos profile to destroyers
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Submarines (SS/SSN/SSBN)'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Extremely heavy per volume'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Required asbestos from 1922; most confined spaces in the fleet<ref name="mesoveterans-org-subs" /><ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Large engineering plants plus vehicle and aircraft spaces
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Supply/logistics ships (AO/AE/AFS)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Heavy'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boilers and extensive piping systems
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | Repair ships (AR/AD)
| style="padding:10px;" | '''Very heavy'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Workers performed asbestos-intensive repair work aboard these vessels<ref name="dandell-navy-shipyards" />
|}

=== Named Vessels With Documented Exposure ===

* '''USS Nimitz (CVN-68):''' Oldest active aircraft carrier; asbestos present "in tremendous amounts, particularly in insulation"<ref name="asbestos-ships-nimitz" />
* '''USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63):''' Extensively documented asbestos exposure; decommissioned 2009
* '''USS Enterprise (CVN-65):''' First nuclear-powered aircraft carrier; asbestos throughout; decommissioned 2012
* '''USS Forrestal (CV-59):''' First supercarrier; built with extensive asbestos; decommissioned 1993
* '''USS St. Louis, USS Dash, USS Assurance:''' Named in a $3.4 million Navy veteran mesothelioma settlement<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
* '''USS Klondike (AR-22):''' WWII-era repair ship; documented asbestos exposure<ref name="mesonet-navy" />
* '''USS Krishna:''' Repair ship earning 12 battle stars in Vietnam; documented asbestos use<ref name="dandell-claims" />

=== Submarine-Specific Exposure ===

Submarine asbestos exposure was particularly severe due to unique factors:<ref name="mesoveterans-org-subs" /><ref name="veteransguide-subs" />

* '''Mandatory asbestos from 1922:''' The Navy specified asbestos as a required building material for all new submarines, using South African chrysotile for gaskets, insulation, packing, and tape, and Transvaal amosite for lightweight insulation<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
* '''Extreme confinement:''' Submarines had the smallest interior volumes of any vessel type, concentrating airborne fibers to dangerous levels
* '''No escape:''' Unlike surface ships, submariners could not go topside for fresh air during extended submerged operations
* '''Multiple submarine classes affected:''' Attack submarines (SSK), ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), guided missile submarines (SSGN), fleet submarines (SF), and nuclear-powered submarines (SSN)<ref name="mesonet-submarines" />
* '''Asbestos in critical compartments:''' Torpedo rooms, nuclear reactor compartments, and sonar spaces all required additional insulation for fire safety and radiation shielding<ref name="veteransguide-subs" />

== Which Naval Shipyards Exposed Workers to Asbestos? ==

Naval shipyards were among the most dangerous workplaces in America for asbestos exposure. Both military and civilian workers at these facilities faced extreme exposure during ship construction, maintenance, and repair operations.<ref name="pmc-shipyard-workers" />

=== Major Naval Shipyards ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Shipyard
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Location
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Peak Employment
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Status
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Norfolk Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Portsmouth, VA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | ~43,000 (WWII)<ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk" />
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Active; EPA Superfund NPL site
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Brooklyn Navy Yard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Brooklyn, NY
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | ~70,000 (WWII)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1966; converted to industrial park
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Philadelphia Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Philadelphia, PA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | ~40,000+ (WWII)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1995; converted to commercial campus
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Puget Sound Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bremerton, WA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Tens of thousands
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Active; EPA Superfund NPL site; cleanup since 1997<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pearl Harbor, HI
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Peak during WWII
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Active; asbestos remediation ongoing<ref name="mesonet-navy" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Mare Island Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Vallejo, CA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Tens of thousands
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1996; massive cleanup ongoing<ref name="mlc-mare-island" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Portsmouth Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Kittery, ME
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Thousands
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Active; Superfund site '''delisted March 2024'''<ref name="navy-portsmouth" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Charleston Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | N. Charleston, SC
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Hundreds of thousands over history
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1996; asbestos mortality 2× state average<ref name="mesonet-charleston" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Long Beach Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Long Beach, CA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Thousands
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1997; environmental cleanup
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Boston Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boston, MA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Tens of thousands (WWII)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Closed 1974; converted to national park/commercial
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | '''Hunters Point Naval Shipyard'''
| style="padding:10px;" | San Francisco, CA
| style="padding:10px;" | Peak during WWII
| style="padding:10px;" | Closed 1974; EPA Superfund site since 1989<ref name="tandfonline-hunters-point" />
|}

=== Major Private Shipyards That Built Navy Vessels ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Shipyard
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Location
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Navy Contracts
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Newport News Shipbuilding
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Newport News, VA
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Aircraft carriers, submarines
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bath Iron Works
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bath, ME
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Destroyers, cruisers
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Electric Boat (General Dynamics)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Groton, CT
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Submarines
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Ingalls Shipbuilding
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pascagoula, MS
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Amphibious ships, destroyers
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard
| style="padding:10px;" | Curtis Bay, MD
| style="padding:10px;" | Coast Guard vessels; SMR 5.07 for mesothelioma<ref name="curtis-bay" />
|}

=== Civilian Shipyard Worker Exposure ===

Civilian shipyard workers often experienced '''higher''' asbestos exposure than sailors for several reasons:<ref name="pmc-shipyard-workers" /><ref name="mlc-mare-island" />

* Insulators, pipefitters, and boiler workers directly handled raw asbestos materials during construction and repair
* Ship construction involved applying asbestos insulation in unventilated, partially enclosed hull spaces
* Workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in at least '''19 different trades''' handled asbestos
* At Norfolk Naval Shipyard, over '''43,000 civilians''' worked during WWII alone, all likely exposed<ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk" />
* The Curtis Bay study demonstrated that civilian workers with 10+ years of employment had an SMR of '''6.27''' for mesothelioma<ref name="curtis-bay" />

=== Environmental Contamination Legacy ===

Before 1979, workers at Norfolk Naval Shipyard routinely dumped waste materials overboard, onto the ground, or into storm drains, sending asbestos and other pollutants directly into the Elizabeth River. Similar disposal practices at other yards led to widespread environmental contamination requiring Superfund-level cleanup. At Charleston Naval Shipyard, asbestos-related mortality rates are '''two times higher''' than the state average.<ref name="mesonet-charleston" /><ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk" />

== Which Companies Supplied Asbestos Products to the Navy? ==

The Navy relied on a network of manufacturers to supply asbestos-containing products for shipbuilding and maintenance. Many of these companies have since filed for bankruptcy and established trust funds to compensate asbestos victims.<ref name="dandell-trusts" />

=== Major Manufacturers ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Manufacturer
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Products Supplied to Navy
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Trust Status
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Johns-Manville'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Pipe insulation (Unibestos), gaskets, cement, building materials
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bankrupt 1982; trust ~$2.5B<ref name="mesoatt-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Babcock & Wilcox'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Marine boilers, boiler components, gaskets, insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bankrupt 2000; trust est. 2006; ~$1.94B paid out<ref name="dandell-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Combustion Engineering'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Boilers (including Liberty ship boilers), insulating cements, gaskets
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bankrupt 2003; trust est. 2006; $1.43B<ref name="mesoatt-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Foster Wheeler'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Marine boilers, steam condensers, gaskets, valves, pumps
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Still active; no bankruptcy trust<ref name="mesonet-foster-wheeler" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Owens Corning'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fiberglass/asbestos insulation, building materials
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Bankrupt 2000; trust active<ref name="mesoatt-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''W.R. Grace'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Fireproofing, insulating materials
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Trust active<ref name="dandell-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Armstrong World Industries'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Floor tiles, ceiling tiles, insulation
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Trust active<ref name="mesoatt-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Garlock Sealing Technologies'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Gaskets, packing materials
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Trust active (parent: Coltec Industries)<ref name="dandell-trusts" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Goodyear'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Durabla and Cranite gaskets
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Active; held liable for $40.1M verdict (2025)<ref name="prnewswire-twidwell" />
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | '''A.W. Chesterton'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Packing materials, gaskets
| style="padding:10px;" | Active defendant in lawsuits<ref name="mlc-compensation" />
|}

More than '''60 bankrupt companies''' that manufactured asbestos products have active trust funds today, with a combined value exceeding '''$30 billion'''. The trusts continue to accept and pay claims — for example, the Babcock & Wilcox trust has paid approximately '''403,000 claims totaling over $1.94 billion''' since its establishment.<ref name="dandell-trusts" /><ref name="mesoatt-trusts" />

== What Navy Regulations Governed Asbestos Use? ==

=== Timeline of Navy Asbestos Awareness and Policy ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px; width:15%;" | Year
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Event
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1922'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy specifies asbestos as required building material for new submarines<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1939'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | U.S. classifies asbestos as a "critical material"; strategic stockpiling begins<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1942'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | FDR issues Asbestos Conservation Order banning non-military asbestos use<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1945'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Asbestos conservation orders revoked after WWII
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1960s'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Historical studies begin connecting asbestos to mesothelioma<ref name="mesonet-foster-wheeler" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''1971'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy begins using alternative materials in ship insulation per Office of Chief of Naval Operations<ref name="veteransguide-subs" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Late 1973'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy updates specifications to officially exclude asbestos<ref name="veteransguide-subs" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''~1975'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy begins replacing some existing asbestos materials aboard ships<ref name="mesonet-submarines" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Early 1980s'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy largely stops installing new asbestos on ships<ref name="mesoveterans-org-subs" />
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | '''Mid-1990s'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Navy stops all asbestos use<ref name="mesonet-navy" />
|}

=== Key Regulatory Documents ===

* '''OPNAVINST 5100.23 (Navy Safety and Occupational Health Program Manual):''' The primary Navy policy reference for asbestos. Chapter 17 is dedicated entirely to asbestos management, including workplace controls, clearance criteria, disposal procedures, and the asbestos management program ashore.<ref name="secnav-opnavinst" /><ref name="navytribe-opnavinst" />
* '''NAVFAC P-502 (Asbestos Program Management):''' Implements the requirements of OPNAVINST 5100.23 for facilities-related asbestos operations at Navy installations.<ref name="wbdg-p502" />
* '''CNICINST 5100.1:''' Specifies implementation and resourcing of asbestos management at Navy installations.<ref name="wbdg-p502" />
* '''MIL-STD specifications:''' The Navy required amosite, chrysotile, and crocidolite (blue) asbestos in its components through military specifications, mandating asbestos in products "necessary to fill Defense orders."<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" />
* '''Navy Asbestos Clearance Criteria:''' Established in OPNAVINST 5100.23 Series; clearance sampling required for quality control and personnel access.<ref name="med-navy-asbestos" />

=== Current Policy ===

Current Navy policy is to "eliminate asbestos hazards by substitution with asbestos-free material or, where this is not possible, through the use of" engineering controls and administrative procedures. Appendix 17-C of OPNAVINST 5100.23 details the comprehensive Asbestos Management Program Ashore, including inspection requirements, work control permits, and disposal procedures.<ref name="secnav-opnavinst" />

== How Did Wartime Conditions Increase Exposure? ==

Wartime operations significantly amplified asbestos exposure through several mechanisms that affected every conflict from World War II through Vietnam.<ref name="dandell-claims" />

=== World War II Shipbuilding Surge ===

The Navy fleet grew from '''394 vessels in 1939 to nearly 7,000 in 1945'''. This massive buildup required enormous quantities of asbestos. Liberty ships and Victory ships built during this era used Combustion Engineering boilers lined with asbestos. '''Hundreds of thousands''' of civilian shipyard workers were employed across the nation's shipyards during this period, nearly all exposed to asbestos.<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding" /><ref name="vetalliance-ships" /><ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk" />

At the Brooklyn Navy Yard alone, approximately '''70,000 workers''' at peak employment handled asbestos across at least 19 different trades. At Norfolk Naval Shipyard, over '''43,000 civilians''' worked during WWII.<ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk" />

=== Korean War ===

During the Korean War, asbestos was used "in virtually every mode of transportation: ships, tanks, aircraft, jeeps and trucks." More than '''300 products or parts''' on ships built during this era contained asbestos. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard was a key ship repair facility due to its Pacific location.<ref name="mesonet-branches" />

=== Vietnam War ===

Ships that served during Vietnam were extensively insulated with asbestos. The USS Krishna, a repair ship earning '''12 battle stars''' for Vietnam War service, was built using asbestos throughout. Wartime conditions amplified exposure through:<ref name="mesonet-navy" /><ref name="asbestos-ships-snipes" />

* '''Deferred maintenance:''' Combat conditions meant asbestos insulation deteriorated and released fibers more readily
* '''Battle damage repair:''' Emergency repairs disturbed asbestos materials without protective measures
* '''Shipboard crowding:''' Wartime ship complements were larger, increasing the number of personnel exposed
* '''Extended deployments:''' Crews remained aboard for months, increasing cumulative exposure duration
* '''Accelerated shipbuilding:''' Wartime urgency meant asbestos was applied quickly with minimal dust control

== What Legal Options Do Navy Veterans Have? ==

=== The Feres Doctrine ===

Under ''Feres v. United States'' (1950), veterans '''cannot''' sue the U.S. government for injuries "incident to military service." However, veterans '''can''' sue the private manufacturers that supplied asbestos-containing products to the Navy. This distinction has been central to Navy asbestos litigation for decades.<ref name="hoover-feres" /><ref name="dandell-claims" />

{| style="width:100%; border:1px solid #1a5276; border-left:5px solid #1a5276; border-radius:4px; margin:1em 0;"
|-
| style="padding:15px;" | "''The Feres Doctrine prevents Navy veterans from suing the federal government, but it does not shield the private companies that profited from selling asbestos products to the military,''" explains [https://dandell.com/about/ Rod De Llano of Danziger & De Llano]. "''Companies like Johns-Manville, Babcock & Wilcox, and Goodyear knew their products were dangerous and failed to warn the Navy or its sailors. Those companies — and their bankruptcy trusts — remain fully liable.''"
|}

=== Air & Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries (2019) ===

In the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case ''Air & Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries'', the Court ruled '''6-3''' that manufacturers of "bare metal" equipment can be held liable for asbestos-related injuries, even when the asbestos was added by a third party (the Navy) after purchase. Two Navy veterans — Kenneth McAfee and John DeVries — developed cancer after working with pumps, blowers, and turbines on Navy ships. Both veterans died during litigation; their widows continued the case.<ref name="supremecourt-devries" />

The Court established a three-part test: manufacturers have a duty to warn when (1) their product requires incorporation of another part, (2) the manufacturer knows the integrated product is likely to be dangerous, and (3) there is no reason to believe end users would realize the danger.<ref name="supremecourt-devries" />

=== Landmark Verdicts and Settlements ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Year
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Amount
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Veteran/Plaintiff
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Details
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 2025
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$40.1 million'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Walter Twidwell (Navy boiler tender, age 81)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | New York County Supreme Court; Goodyear held liable for Durabla/Cranite gaskets; jury deliberated less than 2 hours<ref name="prnewswire-twidwell" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Various
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$5,437,183'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Former Puget Sound Naval Shipyard worker (age 60)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Settlement from multiple asbestos companies<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Various
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$4,253,345'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Navy veteran (age 55)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Puget Sound-related claim<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Various
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$3.4 million'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Florida Navy veteran
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Served aboard USS St. Louis, USS Dash, USS Assurance<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | Various
| style="padding:10px;" | '''$2,631,118'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Navy veteran/HVAC worker (age 83)
| style="padding:10px;" | Puget Sound-related claim<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" />
|}

Navy veteran mesothelioma settlements typically range from approximately '''$1 million to over $40 million''', depending on the strength of evidence, number of responsible defendants, jurisdiction, and specific exposure history.<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements" /><ref name="mesoatt-compensation" />

== What VA Benefits Are Available for Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma? ==

=== 2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates (100% Rating) ===

Mesothelioma is rated at '''100% disability''' by the VA, qualifying veterans for the highest compensation tier.<ref name="va-rates" /><ref name="va-asbestos" /><ref name="veteransguide-meso" />

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Dependent Status
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Monthly Compensation (2026)
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Veteran only (no dependents)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$3,938.58'''<ref name="va-rates" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Veteran with spouse
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$4,158.17'''<ref name="va-rates" /><ref name="veteransguide-meso" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Veteran with 1 child
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$4,085.43'''<ref name="va-rates" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Veteran with 1 parent
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$4,114.82'''<ref name="va-rates" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Veteran with 2 parents
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''$4,291.06'''<ref name="va-rates" />
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | Veteran, spouse, and 1 child
| style="padding:10px;" | '''$4,318.99'''<ref name="veteransguide-meso" />
|}

=== Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) ===

Surviving spouses of veterans whose death was service-connected can receive DIC payments starting at '''$1,699.36 per month''' in 2026. Additional amounts may be available if the veteran was rated 100% disabled for at least 8 years while married.<ref name="va-rates" /><ref name="mlc-benefits" />

=== Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) ===

Veterans may qualify for additional tax-free SMC payments ranging from '''$139.87 to $11,271.67 per month''' depending on the level of disability and loss of use of specific extremities or organs.<ref name="veteransguide-meso" />

=== The PACT Act and Mesothelioma ===

The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act, signed into law on '''August 10, 2022''', expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service. Under the PACT Act, mesothelioma is treated as a '''presumptive condition''' for veterans who demonstrate asbestos exposure during military service. This means veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma need only show their diagnosis and asbestos exposure history — the VA removes the need to prove a direct causal connection between exposure and illness.<ref name="va-pact" /><ref name="veteransguide-pact" />

=== How the VA Evaluates Navy Veterans Differently ===

The VA's Duty MOS/Rating Probability of Exposure matrix gives Navy veterans a significant procedural advantage. Veterans who served in one of the '''18 "Highly Probable" ratings''' have their asbestos exposure effectively presumed when filing claims. For "Probable" ratings, the VA must still develop the claim but the classification supports a favorable determination. Even veterans in "Minimal" ratings can establish exposure through service records showing proximity to asbestos-containing areas.<ref name="mesoveterans-org-presumptive" /><ref name="dandell-va-claims" />

=== Aid and Attendance Benefits ===

Veterans rated 100% disabled who need help with daily activities — including bathing, dressing, feeding, and attending to needs of nature — may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, providing additional monthly compensation above the base disability rate.<ref name="mlc-benefits" /><ref name="veteransguide-meso" />

== Can Family Members of Navy Veterans Be Affected? ==

=== Take-Home Fiber Exposure ===

Family members of Navy sailors and shipyard workers faced significant risk of '''secondary (or "take-home") asbestos exposure'''. Asbestos fibers have a rough texture that allows them to easily adhere to clothing, hair, skin, and shoes. When service members returned home — or when shipyard workers came home after shifts — they could unknowingly transfer dangerous fibers to their families.<ref name="asbestos-ships-families" /><ref name="dandell-exposure" />

Primary pathways of secondary exposure included:

* Washing contaminated work clothes
* Direct physical contact (hugging, sitting on laps)
* Contact with contaminated furniture and vehicles
* Airborne fibers circulating through home ventilation systems

=== Risk Level ===

Research published in peer-reviewed journals has found that family members of asbestos-exposed workers had high concentrations of asbestos fibers in their lungs and lung tissue abnormalities associated with increased mesothelioma risk. Shipyard employees with moderate asbestos exposure were found to be almost '''four times more likely''' to die from mesothelioma, and their families faced proportional secondary risk.<ref name="asbestos-ships-families" />

Secondary exposure is considered just as hazardous as primary asbestos exposure when repeated over extended periods. Some mesothelioma cases have arisen from children sitting on a parent's or grandparent's lap after they returned home from shipyard work.<ref name="dandell-exposure" />

=== Base Housing Exposure ===

Navy families living on base were exposed through asbestos in military housing construction materials as well as take-home fibers. Barracks, family housing units, and base buildings constructed before the 1980s commonly contained asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, ceiling materials, and other components. A 2020 DoD Inspector General report found that military family housing at multiple bases may have exposed residents to carcinogens including asbestos.<ref name="dodig-housing" /><ref name="mlc-veteran-claims" />

== What Is the Current Status of Asbestos in the Navy? ==

=== Active-Duty Ships With Legacy Asbestos ===

Some active-duty Navy ships '''still contain''' legacy asbestos materials. The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the oldest aircraft carrier still in active service, contains asbestos "in tremendous amounts, particularly in insulation."<ref name="asbestos-ships-nimitz" /> The Navy's current approach is to contain and encapsulate remaining asbestos rather than remove it entirely, though the material can be disrupted by repairs or accidents.<ref name="mesonet-submarines" />

=== Current Asbestos Management Program ===

The Navy's current asbestos management program operates under OPNAVINST 5100.23 and NAVFAC P-502. Key elements include:<ref name="secnav-opnavinst" /><ref name="wbdg-p502" /><ref name="navfac-asbestos" />

* Mandatory asbestos building surveys and inventories at all installations
* Work control permit systems for any activity that may disturb asbestos-containing materials
* Training and certification requirements for personnel performing asbestos work
* Exposure monitoring per 29 CFR 1915.1001 and 1926.1101 standards<ref name="med-navy-asbestos" />
* Risk Assessment Code (RAC) system for prioritizing asbestos abatement projects
* Clearance sampling after any abatement activity

=== Ongoing Shipyard Remediation ===

Shipyard remediation remains active at multiple sites:<ref name="navy-portsmouth" /><ref name="mlc-mare-island" /><ref name="denix-brac" />

* '''Norfolk Naval Shipyard''' remains on the EPA's National Priorities List; most recent 5-year review (August 2021) found the site "not yet achieved" sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse
* '''Puget Sound Naval Shipyard''' cleanup has been ongoing since 1997
* '''Portsmouth Naval Shipyard''' celebrated its Superfund site '''delisting in March 2024''', representing a rare success story<ref name="navy-portsmouth" />
* '''Mare Island Naval Shipyard''' cleanup continues, addressing hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminating substances<ref name="mlc-mare-island" />

=== Ongoing Diagnoses ===

Due to the '''15-to-60-year latency period''', Navy veterans continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma today. The average age at diagnosis for pleural mesothelioma is 72 years. Veterans who served in the 1960s and 1970s remain at elevated risk for new diagnoses, and the peak of Vietnam-era veteran diagnoses is now occurring and will likely continue through the 2030s.<ref name="mesonet-navy" /><ref name="boice-study" />

== Navy Sailors vs. Civilian Shipyard Workers ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Factor
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Navy Sailors
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Civilian Shipyard Workers
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Exposure duration'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 24/7 while aboard ship
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | 8-hour shifts, but often decades of employment
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Exposure intensity'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Moderate to high (working/living near asbestos)
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Often higher (directly handling raw asbestos materials)<ref name="pmc-shipyard-workers" />
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Confined spaces'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Yes, especially below decks and on submarines
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Yes, working inside ship hulls during construction
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Legal options'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Cannot sue government (Feres Doctrine); can sue manufacturers<ref name="hoover-feres" />
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Can sue both employers (in some cases) and manufacturers
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''VA benefits'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Eligible for VA disability, DIC, healthcare<ref name="va-rates" />
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Not eligible unless also veterans
|-
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | '''Documentation'''
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Service records, MOS ratings provide evidence
| style="padding:10px; border-bottom:1px solid #dee2e6;" | Employment records, union records
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | '''Key study'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Boice et al. — SMR 2.15 to 6.47<ref name="boice-study" />
| style="padding:10px;" | Curtis Bay — SMR 5.07 to 6.27<ref name="curtis-bay" />
|}

== Get Help ==

If you or a loved one served in the U.S. Navy and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, multiple compensation options are available:

* '''Free Case Evaluation:''' [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-veterans/ Danziger & De Llano] — experienced mesothelioma attorneys representing Navy veterans nationwide. Call '''(866) 222-9990''' for a free, confidential consultation.<ref name="dandell-veterans" />
* '''Attorney Finder:''' [https://mesotheliomalawyersnearme.com/ MesotheliomalawyersNearMe.com] — find qualified mesothelioma attorneys in your area and take a free case evaluation quiz.
* '''Patient Resources:''' [https://mesothelioma.net/navy-veterans-asbestos-exposure/ Mesothelioma.net] — comprehensive information on Navy veteran asbestos exposure and treatment options.<ref name="mesonet-navy" />
* '''Legal Resources:''' [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/veteran-claims-mesothelioma/ Mesothelioma Lawyer Center] — veterans' claims guide and legal process overview.<ref name="mlc-veteran-claims" />
* '''Compensation Guide:''' [https://mesotheliomaattorney.com/mesothelioma/compensation/ MesotheliomaAttorney.com] — learn about all compensation types available to Navy veterans.<ref name="mesoatt-compensation" />

== Related Pages ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px; text-align:left;" | Related Page
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px; text-align:left;" | What You'll Learn
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Military Exposure Overview]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Branch-by-branch comparison of military asbestos exposure and risk levels
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Air Force Asbestos Exposure]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Asbestos at Air Force bases, aircraft, and ICBM sites
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Navy Ships Asbestos Database]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Vessel-specific asbestos exposure documentation for Navy veterans
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Veterans Benefits Guide]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Complete guide to VA disability, DIC, and healthcare benefits
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[VA Benefits for Veterans with Mesothelioma]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Detailed VA claims process and compensation rates
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Asbestos Trust Funds]]
| style="padding:10px;" | How to access $30+ billion in available trust fund compensation
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Occupational Exposure Index]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Asbestos exposure by civilian and military occupation
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Statute of Limitations by State]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Critical filing deadlines for mesothelioma lawsuits
|-
| style="padding:10px;" | [[Veterans Mesothelioma Quick Reference]]
| style="padding:10px;" | Quick-reference facts and statistics for all military branches
|}

== References ==

<references>
<ref name="boice-study">[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09553002.2018.1551641 Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Mortality Among Atomic Veterans], International Journal of Radiation Biology, 2019</ref>
<ref name="boice-pubmed">[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30513236/ Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Mortality Among Atomic Veterans], PubMed (PMID: 30513236)</ref>
<ref name="pmc-shipbuilding">[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2604477/ Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences], PMC/NIH</ref>
<ref name="pmc-shipyard-workers">[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2078396/ Shipyard Workers and Asbestos: A Persistent and International Problem], PMC/NIH</ref>
<ref name="curtis-bay">[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2078389/ Mortality Among Shipyard Coast Guard Workers], Occupational & Environmental Medicine, PMC/NIH</ref>
<ref name="tandfonline-hunters-point">[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408444.2022.2118107 Radiological Risk Assessment of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard], Critical Reviews in Toxicology</ref>
<ref name="supremecourt-devries">[https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-1104_2co3.pdf Air & Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries], U.S. Supreme Court (2019)</ref>
<ref name="hoover-feres">[https://www.hoover.org/research/ill-conceived-new-wave-asbestos-liability An Ill-Conceived New Wave of Asbestos Liability], Hoover Institution, Stanford University</ref>
<ref name="prnewswire-twidwell">[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sokolove-law-secures-40-1-million-verdict-for-us-navy-veteran-with-mesothelioma-302599083.html $40.1 Million Verdict for U.S. Navy Veteran with Mesothelioma], PR Newswire, 2025</ref>
<ref name="navy-portsmouth">[https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/3712165/portsmouth-naval-shipyard-celebrates-epa-superfund-site-delisting/ Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Celebrates EPA Superfund Site Delisting], U.S. Navy</ref>
<ref name="va-pact">[https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits], U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs</ref>
<ref name="va-rates">[https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/ VA Disability Compensation Rates], U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs</ref>
<ref name="va-asbestos">[https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/asbestos/ Asbestos Exposure], U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs</ref>
<ref name="secnav-opnavinst">[https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/SECNAV%20Manuals1/5100.23%20CH-3.pdf OPNAVINST 5100.23: Navy Safety and Occupational Health Program Manual], Secretary of the Navy</ref>
<ref name="navytribe-opnavinst">[https://navytribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/opnavinst-5100-23.pdf OPNAVINST 5100.23G], Navy Tribe</ref>
<ref name="med-navy-asbestos">[https://www.med.navy.mil/Portals/62/Documents/NMFA/NMCPHC/root/Industrial%20Hygiene/IHFOM-CH7-Nov25.pdf Chapter 7: Asbestos Monitoring Procedures], Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center</ref>
<ref name="wbdg-p502">[https://www.wbdg.org/NAVFAC/PPUBB/P-502_asbestos_program_management.pdf NAVFAC P-502 Asbestos Program Management], Whole Building Design Guide</ref>
<ref name="dodig-housing">[https://www.dodig.mil/Reports/Audits-and-Evaluations/Article/4404997/management-advisory-evaluation-of-the-dods-actions-to-address-mold-hazards-in-n/ Evaluation of DoD Management of Health and Safety Hazards in Government-Owned Housing], DoD Inspector General</ref>
<ref name="navfac-asbestos">[https://exwc.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/88/Documents/EXWC/Restoration/er_pdfs/gpr/navfac-ev-guid-asbestos-20120517.pdf Asbestos Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions], NAVFAC EXWC</ref>
<ref name="denix-brac">[https://www.denix.osd.mil/soh/denix-files/sites/21/2022/10/01_Asbestos-Lead-Paint-and-Radon-Policies.docx Asbestos, Lead Paint and Radon Policies], DoD DENIX</ref>
<ref name="dandell-veterans">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-veterans/ Veterans and Mesothelioma Claims], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="dandell-trusts">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/mesothelioma-asbestos-trust-fund-payouts/ Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="dandell-claims">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/veteran-mesothelioma/veterans-mesothelioma-claims-need-to-know/ Veterans Mesothelioma Claims: What You Need to Know], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="dandell-exposure">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/veteran-mesothelioma/veterans-mesothelioma-what-you-need-to-know/ Veterans and Mesothelioma: What You Need to Know], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="dandell-va-claims">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/va-mesothelioma-claims/ VA Mesothelioma Claims], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="dandell-navy-shipyards">[https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/veteran-mesothelioma/asbestos-exposure-navy-shipyards/ Asbestos Exposure in Navy Shipyards], Danziger & De Llano LLP</ref>
<ref name="mlc-mare-island">[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/veterans/navy/shipyard-and-asbestos/mare-island-naval-shipyard/ Mare Island Naval Shipyard: Asbestos Exposure], Mesothelioma Lawyer Center</ref>
<ref name="mlc-benefits">[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/veterans-mesothelioma-benefits/ Veterans Mesothelioma Benefits Guide], Mesothelioma Lawyer Center</ref>
<ref name="mlc-veteran-claims">[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/veteran-claims-mesothelioma/ Veteran Claims: What Every Veteran Needs to Know], Mesothelioma Lawyer Center</ref>
<ref name="mlc-compensation">[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/mesothelioma-compensation-veterans/ Veterans Legal Protection: Mesothelioma Compensation Options], Mesothelioma Lawyer Center</ref>
<ref name="mlc-navy-settlements">[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/largest-navy-asbestos-settlements/ Largest Navy Asbestos Settlements], Mesothelioma Lawyer Center</ref>
<ref name="mesonet-navy">[https://mesothelioma.net/navy-veterans-asbestos-exposure/ Navy Veterans and Asbestos Exposure], Mesothelioma.net</ref>
<ref name="mesonet-submarines">[https://mesothelioma.net/submarines/ Submarines and Asbestos Exposure], Mesothelioma.net</ref>
<ref name="mesonet-charleston">[https://mesothelioma.net/charleston-naval-shipyard/ Charleston Naval Shipyard], Mesothelioma.net</ref>
<ref name="mesonet-branches">[https://mesothelioma.net/military-branches-asbestos-exposure/ Military Branches and Asbestos Exposure], Mesothelioma.net</ref>
<ref name="mesonet-foster-wheeler">[https://mesothelioma.net/foster-wheeler/ Foster Wheeler: Asbestos Products and Exposure], Mesothelioma.net</ref>
<ref name="mesoatt-compensation">[https://mesotheliomaattorney.com/mesothelioma/compensation/ Mesothelioma Compensation Guide], MesotheliomaAttorney.com</ref>
<ref name="mesoatt-trusts">[https://mesotheliomaattorney.com/mesothelioma/trust-funds/ Mesothelioma Trust Funds], MesotheliomaAttorney.com</ref>
<ref name="mesovets-navy">[https://www.mesotheliomavets.com/veterans/navy/ Asbestos Exposure in the Navy], MesotheliomaVets.com</ref>
<ref name="vetbattle-asbestos">[https://www.veteransbattleasbestos.org/thehiddenenemy The Hidden Enemy: Veterans and Asbestos], Veterans Battle Asbestos</ref>
<ref name="vetalliance-ships">[https://www.veteransasbestosalliance.org/navy-ships Navy Ships and Asbestos], Veterans Asbestos Alliance</ref>
<ref name="mesoveterans-org-norfolk">[https://www.mesotheliomaveterans.org/shipyards/norfolk-naval-shipyard/ Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure], Mesothelioma Veterans Center</ref>
<ref name="mesoveterans-org-subs">[https://www.mesotheliomaveterans.org/veterans/navy/ships/submarines/ Asbestos on Submarines], Mesothelioma Veterans Center</ref>
<ref name="mesoveterans-org-presumptive">[https://www.mesotheliomaveterans.org/blog/mesothelioma-va-asbestos-presumptive-conditions-2025/ Mesothelioma VA Asbestos Presumptive Conditions], Mesothelioma Veterans Center</ref>
<ref name="veteransguide-subs">[https://veteransguide.org/mesothelioma/navy/submarines/ Asbestos on Submarines], Veterans Guide</ref>
<ref name="veteransguide-meso">[https://veteransguide.org/conditions/mesothelioma/ Mesothelioma VA Disability Rating], Veterans Guide</ref>
<ref name="veteransguide-pact">[https://veteransguide.org/toxic-exposure/presumptive-conditions-list/ PACT Act Presumptive Conditions List], Veterans Guide</ref>
<ref name="asbestos-ships-nimitz">[https://www.asbestos-ships.com/ships/uss-nimitz-cvn-68 USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and Asbestos Exposure], Asbestos Ships</ref>
<ref name="asbestos-ships-snipes">[https://www.asbestos-ships.com/news/navy-snipes-and-asbestos-exposure Snipes of the U.S. Navy and Asbestos Exposure], Asbestos Ships</ref>
<ref name="asbestos-ships-families">[https://www.asbestos-ships.com/news/families-navy-shipyard-workers-secondhand-asbestos-exposure Families of Navy Shipyard Workers: Secondhand Asbestos Exposure], Asbestos Ships</ref>
</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: February 2026''

[[Category:Military Exposure]]
[[Category:Veterans]]
[[Category:Navy]]
[[Category:Asbestos Exposure]]
[[Category:VA Benefits]]
[[Category:Compensation]]
[[Category:Naval Shipyards]]
[[Category:Submarines]]
[[Category:Occupational Exposure]]
[[Category:PACT Act]]
[[Category:Secondary Exposure]]