If you are a veteran who served in California, or who was stationed at a California base or shipyard, you may have been exposed to asbestos during your service. California was home to some of the largest Navy installations and shipyards in the country. Many of these facilities used asbestos heavily through the 1970s. Veterans who served in California, and family members who lived on California bases, can still be affected by that exposure today.
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis often take 10 to 50 years to appear. A veteran who served in California decades ago may receive a diagnosis only now. This page explains where California veterans were exposed, the compensation options available, and how California-specific factors can affect a claim. There is no cost to speak with us about your service history.
California military installations and shipyards with asbestos
California has one of the heaviest concentrations of military asbestos history in the United States, much of it tied to the Navy and to shipbuilding. Installations and shipyards in the state documented in public records and litigation as having used asbestos materials include:
- Naval Base San Diego. A major surface-fleet homeport with extensive ship and pier facilities.
- Naval Air Station Alameda (closed 1997). A naval air station with aircraft and ship support.
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard (closed 1996). One of the oldest and most active Navy shipyards on the West Coast, with very heavy asbestos exposure.
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (San Francisco, closed). A ship repair and overhaul yard.
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard (closed 1997). A major ship overhaul facility.
- Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. A large Marine installation with buildings and equipment from the asbestos era.
- Camp San Luis Obispo. An Army and National Guard training facility.
- U.S. Coast Guard Base Alameda. A Coast Guard shore facility.
Shipyards carried some of the heaviest asbestos exposure of any setting. Workers who built, repaired, or dismantled ships at Mare Island, Hunters Point, and Long Beach handled large amounts of asbestos insulation and components. Each of these facilities is covered in more detail in the shipyards directory and the military bases directory.
Where California veterans were exposed
California veterans encountered asbestos in the same places as veterans elsewhere, but the state’s large naval footprint meant ship and shipyard exposure was especially common. Typical exposure sources included:
- Boiler rooms and engine rooms aboard ships homeported in California
- Pipe insulation, gaskets, and valve packing on steam systems
- Shipyard repair and overhaul work at Mare Island, Hunters Point, and Long Beach
- Aircraft maintenance at naval air stations
- Building materials such as floor tile, fireproofing, and cement panels in older base structures
- Vehicle brakes, clutches, and gaskets in motor pools
For more on shipboard exposure, see asbestos on Navy ships. For the jobs at highest risk, see Navy veteran asbestos exposure.
Who was exposed
Veterans in several roles faced higher asbestos exposure in California. These include machinist’s mates, boiler technicians, hull maintenance technicians, and enginemen who worked in ship engineering spaces; shipyard workers who overhauled vessels; pipefitters and steamfitters; aircraft maintenance technicians; and construction and utility personnel who worked on base buildings. Family members who lived in base housing built during the asbestos era could also have had lower-level contact with aging materials.
California factors that can affect a claim
California has its own rules and resources that can matter for a veteran’s claim. A few points California veterans often ask about:
- Filing deadlines. California sets time limits for filing personal injury and wrongful death claims related to asbestos. These deadlines can differ for a living claimant and for a family filing after a death. Because the timing rules are specific, it is worth confirming your situation early.
- A major asbestos litigation venue. California courts have handled a large volume of asbestos cases, and many veterans pursue claims here.
- VA medical care in California. The VA operates medical centers across California, including facilities with experience treating asbestos-related illness. A diagnosis and treatment record supports both VA and trust claims.
- State residence is not required to have served here. Many veterans were stationed in California but live elsewhere now. A claim is based on service history and diagnosis, not current residence.
California filing rules are summarized here for general information and are confirmed for your specific situation during a case review.
Health conditions linked to asbestos exposure
Inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen; lung cancer; asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs; and pleural plaques or thickening. These conditions commonly appear 10 to 50 years after first exposure, which is why California veterans are still being diagnosed today.
Trust funds covering California veteran exposure
Many companies that supplied asbestos products to California bases and shipyards later filed for bankruptcy and set up trust funds. These trusts are separate from the VA, and a veteran can often pursue both a VA claim and one or more trust claims. The right trusts depend on which manufacturers’ products a veteran was around.
Manufacturers with strong ties to Navy and shipyard exposure in California include Babcock & Wilcox and Combustion Engineering for boilers, Owens Corning Fibreboard for Kaylo pipe and block insulation, and Pittsburgh Corning for Unibestos pipe insulation used in the 1960s and 1970s.
Each trust publishes scheduled values that change over time, along with the percentage it currently pays. We confirm current figures against each trust’s published documents before they appear in your case review. For the full list, see the asbestos trust funds directory.
Compensation options for California veterans
A California veteran diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness may have more than one option. VA disability compensation is available when exposure is linked to qualifying service, and active cancers such as mesothelioma usually receive a high disability rating. A surviving spouse or dependent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Asbestos trust claims and, in some cases, civil claims can proceed alongside a VA claim. See VA benefits for mesothelioma, how to file a VA claim, asbestos trust funds for veterans, and filing a VA claim and a trust claim together.
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We help veterans and their families understand their compensation options. There is no cost to speak with us about your case.
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Frequently asked questions
I served in California decades ago. Can I still file a claim?
Yes. Asbestos diseases commonly appear 10 to 50 years after exposure, so a diagnosis long after service is common. California does set filing deadlines once a diagnosis is made, so it helps to confirm timing early.
Which California bases and shipyards had asbestos?
Naval Base San Diego, Naval Air Station Alameda, and the Mare Island, Hunters Point, and Long Beach naval shipyards are among the California facilities documented as using asbestos. Several are now closed, which does not prevent a claim.
Do I have to live in California to file based on California service?
No. A claim is based on your service history and diagnosis, not your current state of residence. Many veterans were stationed in California and now live elsewhere.
Can I receive VA benefits and a California asbestos claim at the same time?
In many cases, yes. VA benefits and asbestos trust claims are usually separate paths, since trusts are paid by the manufacturers, not the government. A case review can confirm which options apply.
What if my family member died from mesothelioma after serving in California?
A surviving spouse or dependent may qualify for DIC and may be able to file trust claims. California also sets deadlines for claims after a death, so it helps to ask early. There is no cost to speak with us.
Where can California veterans get medical care for asbestos illness?
The VA operates medical centers across California, including facilities experienced with asbestos-related illness. A diagnosis and treatment record supports both VA and trust claims.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Public Health, Asbestos. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Asbestos exposure eligibility. https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/asbestos/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, asbestos-related claims procedure. https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-special-asbestos.asp
- Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/