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Asbestos Exposure in Veterans: Mesothelioma and VA Claims

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 25 Mar 2009 - Updated: 3 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information explains how asbestos used in ships, shipyards and construction materials before the mid-1970s left U.S. veterans at risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue lining the chest and abdomen whose symptoms often do not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure. It draws on federal health and veterans agencies and on a 65-year follow-up of about 114,000 atomic veterans published in International Journal of Radiation Biology, which found the excess of mesothelioma deaths confined to Navy personnel at about twice the expected rate. The material is useful to older veterans, people with disabilities, family members and caregivers because it sets out who was most likely to be exposed, which symptoms warrant a medical visit, and the two requirements and three types of evidence VA asks for in a disability compensation claim.

At a Glance

Topic Definition

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and abdomen and covers the organs inside them. The most common form, pleural mesothelioma, begins in the lining of the lungs and chest wall, while peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the lining of the abdomen and rare forms arise around the heart or testicles. Most cases are caused by breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers, and the disease typically develops decades after the exposure took place.

Overview

Military service carries health risks that can surface long after discharge, and asbestos exposure is among the best documented. The United States had about 15.8 million living veterans in 2023 [U.S. Census Bureau, 2024]. No reliable count exists of how many were exposed to asbestos during service, but exposure was common in certain jobs before federal regulation of asbestos began in the mid-1970s [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026].

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to six minerals that occur naturally as bundles of thin, durable fibers. The fibers resist heat, fire and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. Asbestos is also a known human carcinogen, and fibers that are breathed in can remain in the lungs for a long time [National Cancer Institute, 2021].

Why Are Veterans at Risk?

Those properties led to heavy use of asbestos in shipbuilding, where it insulated boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes, and in construction materials and vehicle brakes and clutches. Use increased greatly during World War II [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. Besides mesothelioma, inhaled fibers can cause asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026].

Strong evidence comes from a 65-year follow-up of about 114,000 U.S. veterans of above-ground nuclear weapons tests, published in International Journal of Radiation Biology. Mesothelioma deaths were 56 percent higher than expected overall, and the excess was confined to Navy personnel, who died of the disease at about twice the expected rate. No increase was found among Army, Air Force or Marine Corps veterans, and the exposure was traced to areas and materials on Navy ships with known asbestos content [Till et al., 2022].

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that covers organs in the chest or abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the chest cavity and lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen, and rare forms start around the heart or testicles [National Cancer Institute, 2025a].

It is a malignant disease, and asbestos exposure causes most cases. In the United States, 2,669 new cases were reported in 2022. Of the cases recorded from 2003 through 2022, 81 percent began in the pleura and about three in four were in men. The rate of new cases is going down because fewer people are now exposed [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].

Symptoms often do not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026]. Signs include trouble breathing, cough, pain under the rib cage, pain or swelling in the abdomen, fatigue and weight loss for no known reason [National Cancer Institute, 2025b]. These symptoms have many other causes, so anyone who has them and a history of asbestos exposure should see a doctor.

Where Was Asbestos Used in the Military?

Asbestos-containing materials that service members may have handled or worked near include [National Cancer Institute, 2021; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023]:

Which Veterans Were Most Likely to Be Exposed?

In the atomic veterans study, sailors in the ratings with the highest potential for exposure - machinist's mates, boiler technicians, water tenders, pipe fitters and firemen - died of mesothelioma at about 6.5 times the expected rate, while those in jobs with lower or no potential for exposure showed no significant increase [Till et al., 2022]. VA also names these kinds of work as carrying a risk of exposure [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026]:

Spouses and children could be affected as well: there is some evidence that family members of heavily exposed workers face an increased risk of mesothelioma, thought to result from fibers brought into the home on shoes, clothing, skin and hair [National Cancer Institute, 2021].

VA Disability Compensation for Asbestos-Related Illness

Veterans can receive VA disability compensation for mesothelioma and other conditions caused by asbestos. There are two requirements: a health condition caused by asbestos exposure, and contact with asbestos while serving in the military. A claim needs medical records that state the condition, service records that list the veteran's job or specialty, and a doctor's statement connecting the two. Compensation is paid as tax-free monthly payments, and claims can be filed online, by mail, in person or with the help of a trained professional [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023].

The long gap between exposure and diagnosis can make evidence harder to gather, but it does not rule out a claim. VA decides these claims case by case [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026], and its rating schedule rates malignant cancers of the respiratory system as 100 percent disabling [Schedule of Ratings - Respiratory System, 2026].

Separately, some veterans and families bring legal claims against the companies that made or supplied asbestos products. The rules and deadlines vary, so this is a matter for a qualified attorney. Veterans concerned about past exposure can talk with their health care provider or their local VA Environmental Health Coordinator [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026].

Frequently Asked Questions

Is asbestos banned in the United States?

In March 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act banning ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form still imported into or used in the country. The ban is phased in over periods that differ by use and covers products such as brake linings and gaskets.

Does smoking increase the risk for veterans exposed to asbestos?

Yes, for lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute states that smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a lung cancer risk greater than the risks from asbestos and smoking added together, and there is evidence that quitting smoking reduces that risk.

How is mesothelioma treated?

According to the National Cancer Institute, treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The right approach depends on the individual case and is decided with a cancer care team.

Were veterans who served in Iraq exposed to asbestos?

VA states that veterans who served in Iraq and other countries in that region could have been exposed to asbestos when older buildings were damaged and the material was released into the air.

What tests are used to detect asbestos-related disease?

The National Cancer Institute describes the chest x-ray as the most common tool for detecting asbestos-related diseases. A lung biopsy is the most reliable test to confirm exposure, and bronchoscopy is a less invasive option that looks for fibers in material rinsed out of the lungs.

Can a surviving spouse receive VA benefits after a veteran dies of mesothelioma?

VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation may be available to an eligible surviving spouse, child or parent when a veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury. Survivors must also meet VA rules on their relationship to the veteran, and surviving parents must meet income limits.

Does a 100 percent VA rating for respiratory cancer continue after treatment ends?

Under the VA rating schedule, the 100 percent rating continues beyond the end of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other treatment. Six months after treatment stops, VA sets the rating through a mandatory examination, and if the cancer has not returned or spread the rating is based on the remaining effects.

Does everyone exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma?

No. The National Cancer Institute states that most people do not become ill from their exposure, and that those who do are usually people exposed on a regular basis, most often through their work. Risk depends on factors such as how much asbestos a person was exposed to, for how long, and the type of fiber.

References:

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Mesothelioma among veterans is largely a legacy of materials installed generations ago, and new cases are declining as exposure falls, yet the disease still reaches some of the country's roughly 15.8 million living veterans decades after they left the service. Four in five cases begin in the pleura, and the VA rating schedule treats malignant cancers of the respiratory system as 100 percent disabling, so the old belief that a decades-long delay puts compensation out of reach does not hold. The delay makes records harder to find, but it does not bar a claim. For aging veterans and those who care for them, the practical steps are plain: tell a doctor about service jobs and locations, gather the service records that show them, and ask a trained professional or a local VA Environmental Health Coordinator for help before symptoms are dismissed as ordinary aging.

Ian C. Langtree Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his .

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<a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/health/cancer/mesothelioma/asbestos-veterans.php">Asbestos Exposure in Veterans: Mesothelioma and VA Claims</a>: Veterans exposed to asbestos, especially Navy and shipyard personnel, face a higher risk of mesothelioma and may qualify for VA disability compensation.

While we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date information, our content is for general informational purposes only. Please consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.

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