Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Asbestos was used extensively throughout U.S. military construction, shipbuilding, and equipment manufacturing for much of the 20th century. Veterans who served between the 1930s and the early 1980s — particularly those in the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, and construction-related roles — faced significant asbestos exposure as a routine part of their service.

Because asbestos was so widely used across branches and military occupational specialties, the VA recognizes that many veterans were exposed during their service. Asbestos-related diseases often take 20 to 50 years to develop after initial exposure, which means veterans may only now be receiving diagnoses tied to their time in the military.

PACT Act & Toxic Exposure Recognition: The August 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act is the largest veterans benefits bill in history and broadly expanded recognition of toxic exposure claims. While Agent Orange and burn pit exposure received specific presumptive expansions, the PACT Act also reinforced the VA’s obligation to consider asbestos-related claims under toxic exposure frameworks. Veterans with asbestos-related conditions should review their eligibility under updated VA guidance. 

Where were veterans exposed to asbestos?

Asbestos exposure occurred across a wide range of military environments and duties. Common sources of exposure include:

• Navy ships — boiler rooms, engine rooms, and sleeping quarters were heavily insulated with asbestos
• Shipyards where vessels were built, repaired, or maintained
• Military barracks, bases, and government buildings constructed before the 1980s
• Aircraft and vehicle maintenance involving brake linings, gaskets, and insulation
• Pipe fitting, plumbing, and electrical work in older military structures
• Demolition or renovation of older military facilities

What illnesses are associated with asbestos exposure?

• Mesothelioma 
• Asbestosis 
• Lung Cancer 
• Pleural Plaques 
• Pleural Effusion 
• Diffuse Pleural Thickening 
• Laryngeal Cancer 
• Ovarian Cancer 
• Gastrointestinal Cancers 

Because of the serious and well-documented health consequences of asbestos exposure, the VA recognizes several conditions, such as Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, as presumptive conditions in some cases, which means if you were exposed to asbestos during your service and later got sick, the VA now presumes your decline in health is connected to your service.   In other cases, you must demonstrate that you were exposed to asbestos during military service and that your diagnosis is related to that exposure.

Let Our Claims Agents Work for You

Many disabled veterans consult lawyers or advocates for help with their disability claims. Let our VA-accredited claims agents help you get the benefits to which you are entitled. Call our nationwide offices (headquartered in Tampa, Florida) at (888) 573-7838 for a free initial consultation, or simply contact a claims agent online.

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