Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting the mesothelium, the thin membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity, the abdominal cavity, and other the testes. The most common form, pleural mesothelioma, develops in the tissue surrounding the lungs. The VA identifies mesothelioma among the cancers caused by asbestos exposure, and it remains one of the most closely linked asbestos-related diseases.

Why Navy ships were a source of exposure

Older Navy ships relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials because of their resistance to heat and fire, particularly on vessels built before the mid-1970s. The materials below were common throughout a ship's construction and upkeep.

• Pipe insulation, lagging, and cement
• Gaskets, valves, and adhesives
• Flooring and other heat-resistant materials
• Components in engine and boiler rooms

Sailors did not need to work directly with asbestos to be exposed. Personnel who worked below deck, repaired damaged insulation, or re-wrapped pipes with asbestos paste faced regular contact with these materials, and tight, poorly ventilated spaces below deck could make airborne exposure worse.

How exposure led to disease

Once the material containing asbestos fibers is disturbed, damaged, or begins breaking down, those fibers become dangerous. After becoming airborne, these microscopic fibers can be inhaled and get lodged in the lining of the lungs or chest cavity.

From there, mesothelioma often takes decades to develop after the initial exposure. Signs of the disease sometimes do not appear until 30 to 40 years later, which is part of why the connection to military service can be easy to overlook.

Who may be at risk

Certain groups of Navy veterans are more likely to have faced meaningful asbestos exposure during their service.

• Veterans who served on ships with keels laid before 1983
• Personnel who worked below deck, especially before the early 1990s
• Sailors involved in shipboard maintenance, repair, or removal work involving insulation or pipe coverings
• Veterans who worked in Navy shipyards from the 1930s through the 1990s

Falling into one of these groups does not automatically mean a diagnosis is connected to service. It simply means asbestos exposure during that service is more plausible and worth documenting.

VA disability compensation for mesothelioma

Veterans may qualify for VA disability compensation when they have a health condition caused by asbestos exposure and had contact with asbestos during their military service. Mesothelioma is not currently treated as a presumptive condition under the VA's asbestos guidance, so each claim is decided individually rather than automatically approved based on service history alone.

Evidence commonly used to support an asbestos-exposure claim includes the following.

• Medical records documenting the diagnosis
• Service records identifying the veteran's job or duty station
• A doctor's statement connecting the diagnosis to asbestos exposure during service
• Details on shipboard duties, such as working below deck or handling damaged insulation

The VA may also request its own medical examination to evaluate the connection between service and the diagnosis before making a decision. Simply having served on a ship known to contain asbestos does not by itself establish that a specific diagnosis was caused by that service.

Mesothelioma disability rating

VA disability ratings depend on the severity of the condition and the applicable rating criteria, with 100 percent as the maximum schedular rating available. Mesothelioma generally results in a 100 percent rating while the malignant neoplasm criteria are met, though the exact rating still depends on the VA's rating schedule and the specifics of the case.

• $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents
• $4,158.17 per month for a veteran with a spouse and no other dependents
• Higher amounts apply with additional eligible dependents

These 2026 rates are tax-free, and they reflect compensation at the 100 percent schedular level specifically.

Other compensation considerations

A veteran does not need to show that military service was the only source of asbestos exposure in their life. The VA's focus is on whether asbestos contact occurred during service and whether that contact caused the claimed condition, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• A service-connected rating can open the door to VA health care and other benefits
• Individual Unemployability can pay at the 100 percent rate when the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, even at a lower schedular rating
• Surviving family members may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation if the veteran dies from service-connected mesothelioma

DIC is a distinct survivor benefit, not a continuation or transfer of the veteran's own disability compensation.

Get help with your mesothelioma claim from Asbestos Ships

Piecing together decades-old service records and medical evidence can be difficult to manage alone, especially while dealing with a serious diagnosis. Asbestos Ships connects veterans and their families with resources built to make that process more manageable.

• Referrals to VA-accredited representatives who handle asbestos-related claims at no cost to you
• Information on the type of service and medical records that typically support a claim
• Information on locating your VA regional office or nearest VA medical center
• Connections to legal resources if you are also considering compensation outside the VA system

A mesothelioma diagnosis tied to Navy service is more common than many veterans realize, even decades after their time on a ship ended. You do not have to sort through the VA process or your service history on your own. Reach out to Asbestos Ships today to find out what support may be available to you.