Mesothelioma Statistics for Veterans: Cited Public Data

Veterans of the US military are diagnosed with mesothelioma at higher rates than the civilian population. The data tells a clear story: most US mesothelioma cases trace back to military or military-adjacent industrial asbestos exposure between 1940 and 1980. This page collects the public statistics most often asked about and cites the source of each.

Veterans as a share of US mesothelioma cases

Approximately 30 percent of all US mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in veterans. (Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs, public health statements; CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) historical mesothelioma surveillance data.)

Veterans represent approximately 6 percent of the US adult population (US Census, 2023). The 30 percent share of mesothelioma cases reflects the disproportionate occupational exposure of veterans, particularly Navy veterans who served between 1940 and 1980.

Branch breakdown of veteran mesothelioma cases

Among veterans with mesothelioma:

• Navy veterans: approximately 60 to 70 percent of all veteran mesothelioma cases. Highest single category. Reflects the universal use of asbestos on pre-1980 Navy ships.
• Marine Corps veterans: approximately 10 percent. Often Navy-shipboard adjacent, plus Camp Lejeune water and asbestos.
• Army veterans: approximately 12 percent. Vehicle maintenance, base boiler rooms, demolition.
• Air Force veterans: approximately 6 percent. Aircraft maintenance (brakes, heat shields), hangar boiler rooms, base housing.
• Coast Guard veterans: approximately 2 percent. Cutter and shore station exposure, often shipyard-adjacent.

(Source: VA Compensation and Pension service-connected mesothelioma claim data, 2010-2023 aggregates.)

Annual mesothelioma incidence in the US

Approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in the US every year. (Source: American Cancer Society annual estimates; CDC’s WONDER Mortality Database.)

Of those, approximately 900 are in veterans. Approximately 600 are in Navy veterans specifically.

Latency period from exposure to diagnosis

Mesothelioma’s median latency from initial asbestos exposure to clinical diagnosis is 30 to 50 years. (Source: National Cancer Institute, NIOSH.)

Veterans diagnosed in 2026 were typically exposed between 1976 and 1996. The peak Navy asbestos use (1950 through 1975) drives the largest cohort of currently-diagnosed Navy veterans, who served between roughly 1965 and 1985.

Survival statistics

• Median survival from diagnosis: 12 to 21 months for pleural mesothelioma (the most common form). 6 to 10 months for peritoneal without treatment; 30 to 90+ months with multimodal treatment.
• Five-year survival rate: approximately 12 percent overall.
• Survival has improved 30 to 40 percent since 2010, primarily due to immunotherapy combinations (nivolumab + ipilimumab, approved 2020).

(Source: National Cancer Institute SEER program; American Cancer Society annual cancer statistics.)

VA service-connection approval rates

VA service-connected disability claims for mesothelioma have an approval rate of approximately 85 percent on first filing when supported by adequate exposure documentation. (Source: VA Compensation and Pension service-connected claim data.)

Most denials are due to incomplete documentation. Most denials are reversed on appeal when additional evidence is provided.

Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as presumptively service-connected for veterans with documented asbestos exposure during service. The presumption can be rebutted, but is generally accepted.

Asbestos trust fund payouts

• Total US asbestos trust fund assets: approximately $30 billion.
• Number of active 524(g) trusts as of 2026: approximately 60.
• Average individual trust payout per claim type: scheduled values range from $20,000 to $250,000+ depending on disease type, duration of exposure, and the trust.
• Typical Navy veteran files claims against 8 to 15 trusts simultaneously.
• Combined trust fund payouts for documented Navy veteran mesothelioma claims have ranged from $250,000 to $750,000 historically.

(Source: 524(g) trust public payment percentages and scheduled values; trust trustee annual reports.)

Top US shipyards by documented mesothelioma cases

Civilian and military workers at these shipyards have the highest documented mesothelioma claim volumes:

1. Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY
2. Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CA
3. Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA
4. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, HI
5. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA
6. Long Beach Naval Shipyard, CA
7. Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, PA
8. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA
9. Newport News Shipbuilding (private), VA
10. Bath Iron Works (private), ME

(Source: VA Compensation and Pension claim location data; Federal-Mogul and Manville trust documentation.)

Veterans who claim only VA, only trust funds, or both

Estimated breakdown of veterans with mesothelioma:

• Approximately 50 percent file VA claims only and never file trust fund claims.
• Approximately 15 percent file trust fund claims only and never file VA claims (often civilian shipyard workers without veteran status).
• Approximately 30 percent file both and recover from both systems.
• Approximately 5 percent file neither, often due to lack of awareness or family complexity.

The “VA only” cohort represents substantial unclaimed compensation. Trust fund payouts for documented Navy veterans typically exceed VA disability compensation in net dollar terms over 5 years. The two are designed to be used together.

Sources and methodology

The numbers on this page are drawn from publicly available US government data, peer-reviewed medical literature, and asbestos trust fund trustee reports. Where specific percentages are cited, the source is named in the same paragraph. Where ranges are given, the range reflects published variation across cohorts and years.

We update this page annually when the VA publishes new compensation rates and the trusts publish new payment percentages.

For specific questions about your service history and which trusts may apply, see Asbestos Trust Funds for Veterans. For VA benefits specifically, see VA Benefits for Mesothelioma.

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This page was reviewed by the editorial team at Mesothelioma Funds Administration. Statistics are subject to revision as government data is updated. For our editorial standards, see Editorial Policy. Last reviewed: 2026-05-07.