Photographic Intelligencemen and Asbestos Exposure

Once a standard material in Navy ship construction, asbestos was banned and began to be removed from vessels in the late 1980s after its serious health risks were revealed. Despite the Navy's best efforts to eradicate it, the process of completely removing asbestos from all ships was slow and complex.

Moreover, for many ships still in active service, a comprehensive removal wasn't practical unless they were undergoing major renovations or decommissioning. By the late 1990s, some Navy ships continued to operate with asbestos onboard, exposing sailors and veterans to significant health risks., including photographic intelligencemen (PT). Even if the VA generally considers PTs to have had a low or minimal risk of asbestos exposure compared to other shipboard roles, these veterans still risked inhaling or ingesting toxic fibers just by fulfilling duty on an older Navy ship.

Before the 1980s, Navy ships were equipped with equipment containing asbestos, which was either packed inside components, sprayed on surfaces for insulation, or integrated into materials for heat resistance and durability. Moreover, asbestos wrapped the network of pipes throughout the ship, and damaged insulation was usually repaired with a raw asbestos mixture. Repairs and maintenance usually created asbestos dust and posed a high risk of asbestos contamination. Since asbestos dust could linger in the air for hours, personnel near the repair site were at risk of inhaling airborne fibers and developing illnesses as a result.

Diseases linked to asbestos exposure usually don't show symptoms until decades later, often by which time they have progressed to advanced stages, making treatment much more complicated. The tiny mineral fibers that are inhaled settle in the lungs and other organs, causing scarring that can eventually transform into tumors, resulting in fatal asbestos-related cancers, such as:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Veterans diagnosed with the malignant diseases listed above may qualify to file claims and receive compensation if they have proof of exposure and medical documents stating any of the cancers listed above.

Risking Asbestos Exposure Onboard Navy Ships

While PT generally had a minimal probability of in-service asbestos exposure, it could still be affected by the airborne fibers, especially during service on Navy ships. Even if their primary duty wasn't directly related to asbestos handling, the widespread use of the toxic material onboard exposed all personnel, including those in support roles like PTs.

Much of PT's work was conducted below deck or in enclosed compartments aboard ships or submarines, areas that typically had asbestos-insulated pipes and poor ventilation, where even minimal or passive exposure could lead to long-term health consequences. For PTs involved in the maintenance, repair, or cleaning of such compartments, there was a high risk of contamination.

Furthermore, asbestos was once used in photographic equipment and darkrooms, as well as in certain types of insulation and soundproofing. Indirect exposure wasn't a distant possibility, either: asbestos dust was generated by maintenance or repair activities that regularly disturbed asbestos-containing materials. Additionally, some individuals are more susceptible to asbestos-related diseases than others. PTs analyzed imagery and other photographic data to provide intelligence for military planning and operations and were responsible for assisting in all phases of intelligence operations, including:

• analyzing intelligence information from various sources
• preparing and presenting briefings and reports
• planning photographic reconnaissance missions
• plotting imagery data using maps and charts
• using intelligence databases, libraries, and files

The PT rating was established in 1957 after 6 years of recommendations, only to be disestablished after the Vietnam War, when PT and Yeoman's ratings were combined to form the Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating.

Misdiagnosis Is a Frequent Issue for Veterans Affected by Asbestos Exposure

In the US, up to 1,800 veterans die each year from asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Because asbestos exposure affects such a relatively small number of people, misdiagnosis is so common among victims of asbestos exposure. Consequently, even medical specialists struggle to diagnose veterans with a history of asbestos exposure correctly. Numerous factors contribute to the challenge of meeting the correct diagnosis upon the first appointment:

• similar symptoms to other diseases.
• majority of asbestos illnesses develop in the lungs
• scarce medical literature documents asbestos conditions
• medical professionals lack experience with asbestos diseases

For this reason, it's of utmost importance that veterans seek a second and even a third opinion from different medical specialists, preferably outside of the VA. Unfortunately, this is the only way to receive the correct diagnosis in the end. A wrong diagnosis not only diminishes the effectiveness of the treatment veterans will follow, but also the amount of compensation they can recover after filing a claim.

More importantly, you shouldn't delay your medical appointment. A timely diagnosis plays a crucial role in effective treatment. Moreover, the sooner your asbestos disease is diagnosed, the more favorable your prognosis will be. Veterans should prioritize regular check-ups, chest X-rays or CT scans, and pulmonary function tests to safeguard their health. These non-invasive exams are essential for detecting not only asbestos-related cancers but also non-cancerous diseases linked to asbestos exposure, such as:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

While these diseases do not make former service members eligible for compensation, they should still be closely monitored, as they can evolve into cancer over time. Regular check-ups are crucial for detecting early-stage malignancies, and a cancer diagnosis would qualify veterans for compensation claims.

Helping Navy Veterans Secure the Benefits They Deserve

Because asbestos was heavily used on Navy ships built before the 1980s, many veterans who served aboard these vessels have developed both cancerous and non-cancerous diseases from inhaling or ingesting its toxic fibers. Although the Navy has made significant efforts to eliminate asbestos from its ships, some hazardous materials still remain on many vessels. This lingering presence is known as "legacy asbestos" - asbestos that was used in buildings, vehicles, infrastructure, and equipment decades ago and continues to pose health risks today. For this reason, military personnel who served between World War II and the early 1980s should promptly schedule medical check-ups if they experience any of the following symptoms:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• dizziness
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• persistent dry cough
• pain with inspiration
• respiratory system complications

Veterans diagnosed with cancer linked to service-related asbestos exposure may be eligible for VA benefits as well as compensation through asbestos trust funds. However, claims must be filed within a statute of limitations, typically up to five years from the date of diagnosis. If you choose to pursue legal action, we can connect you with top attorneys experienced in asbestos-related cases.