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Navy veterans, especially submariners from the 1930s-80s and personnel in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, were exposed to two primary invisible risks: ionizing radiation from reactor operations and asbestos, which was extensively used for insulation and fireproofing on ships.
Both contaminants carry long-term health risks, including various cancers and respiratory diseases. Even if radiation exposure in the Navy's nuclear program was monitored and generally maintained at low occupational levels, there are studies suggesting that even low-dose, protracted exposure may carry an increased risk of certain cancers.
The S1C prototype reactor played a crucial role in the U.S. Navy nuclear program, primarily as a land-based training facility for more than 14,000 sailors and nuclear operators, and as a prototype for a unique electric-drive propulsion system for submarines and ships. The Connecticut-based facility had two primary purposes:
- testing new submarine technologies
- training sailors in nuclear propulsion operations
The reactor served as a full-scale prototype for the USS Tullibee, a fast-attack submarine commissioned in 1960. By testing innovative features on land rather than at sea, the Navy could safely evaluate new reactor technologies and support the entire nuclear fleet from 1959 until 1993. Every sailor entering the Navy's Nuclear Field program was required to commit to six years of active duty because of the high cost of training, which ensured that every trained sailor gained operational experience on ships or submarines.
However, prototype reactors were designed for experimental purposes and were built decades before modern safety standards. Personnel in training worked with full-scale surfaces, piping, valves, and insulation materials that they operated daily. They've spent extended periods in the facility, which, combined with later service at sea, often led to what can be considered double exposure:
- ionizing radiation from the reactor and
- asbestos from older insulation materials
Radioactive dust or surface contamination was an additional risk to many veterans' health at the time, and the effects often appeared only many years later.
S1C Trainees Later Served on Submarines Packed With Asbestos
Naval personnel who trained at S1C were not just preparing for radiation-controlled jobs; they were preparing to serve on submarines built during the peak of asbestos use. Roughly every submarine from the 1960s through the 1980s was lined with asbestos insulation around:
- steam lines
- reactor piping
- turbines
- pumps
- ventilation systems
- bulkhead insulation
Moreover, Navy nuclear operators stood watches in engineering spaces containing asbestos lagging that deteriorated over time, generating asbestos dust during maintenance, drills, and routine operations. For veterans, this means that S1C exposure accounted for only half of their contamination, with the remainder occurring in enclosed submarine compartments, where inhaling or ingesting toxic asbestos fibers was unavoidable.
VA Compensation for Ionizing Radiation
Radiation exposure in the military can take many forms, but sailors at S1C and aboard nuclear submarines were exposed primarily to ionizing radiation, which the VA recognizes for radiogenic disease claims. Health problems associated with radiation or combined exposures may include:
- respiratory issues
- autoimmune disorders
- various cancers
- inflammatory diseases
The VA officially recognizes certain conditions as possibly caused by ionizing radiation during service years:
- cancers
- non-malignant thyroid nodular disease
- parathyroid adenoma
- brain tumors
- posterior subcapsular cataracts
- central nervous system tumors
The list is general, and other diseases may also be considered if medical evidence demonstrates a potential association with radiation exposure. Moreover, radiation is among the contaminants covered under the PACT Act for VA health care and benefits. The VA identifies certain service activities as toxic exposure risk activities, including:
- handling nuclear weapons
- working with radioactive materials
- performing nuclear calibration and measurement tasks
Veterans who participated in these activities during service are eligible for:
- VA health screenings
- toxic exposure evaluations
- disability benefits related to radiation
The PACT Act also added specific locations and activities where radiation exposure is automatically presumed, such as:
- the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll
- the B-52 wreckage near Palomares, Spain
- the response to a B-52 fire near Thule AFB, Greenland
Routine training at land-based prototypes like S1C or serving on nuclear submarines does not automatically count as presumptive for radiation-related diseases. Exposed veterans still need to have their claims reviewed, meaning they must provide:
- service records
- training history
- medical evidence
Even if exposure isn't automatically presumptive, veterans can benefit from toxic exposure screenings, which include questions about radiation exposure regardless of deployment location.
The VA considers radiation exposure as part of a veteran's toxic exposure record, called a TERA memo, which can help with access to medical exams and support claim development. Veterans can also participate in the Ionizing Radiation Registry Health Exam, which helps track exposure and identify potential health issues early. Former service members can file for VA disability compensation by completing VA Form 21-526EZ. However, first they should identify whether to claim for:
- radiogenic disease
- direct service connection
- PACT Act presumptive condition
It's vital information that supporting evidence, such as service records, training assignments, dosimetry badge readings, and medical records, strengthens claims.
We Offer Help in Filing Claims for Compensation
Veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their military years between World War II and the 1980s may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds and the VA.
Both payments are a significant help in covering veterans' medical treatment and hospitalization costs if former service members can provide proof of asbestos exposure and have been diagnosed with cancer?stemming from asbestos contamination, such as:
- pharyngeal cancer
- colorectal cancer
- mesothelioma
- laryngeal cancer
- esophageal cancer
- urogenital cancer
- bronchial cancer
- lung cancer
- gastrointestinal cancer
If your medical records show any of the conditions mentioned above and you're considering legal action, an asbestos lawyer can help you gather the required documentation and guide you through the entire process to increase the chances of a successful outcome. We can connect you with experienced attorneys who are ready to take on your case.