Many Navy veterans were around asbestos during their service. This page describes one example of how a mesothelioma claim involving a Navy veteran was resolved. It is shared to show how these cases can work. It is not a prediction of any outcome. There is no cost to speak with us about your service history.
About this case
The veteran in this example served in the United States Navy in the early 1960s. He was assigned to an ammunition and repair vessel and spent time in the engine and boiler spaces. His duties involved maintaining pumps, generators, and related machinery. After his service, he worked for many years in industrial maintenance and later in commercial construction.
He was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma about 40 years after his Navy service began. That gap is consistent with how mesothelioma develops. The disease commonly appears decades after a person is first around asbestos.
Where the asbestos exposure happened
The case involved possible exposure to asbestos in several settings across the veteran’s working life. Aboard ship, asbestos was commonly used in the gaskets, packing, and insulation found in engine and boiler spaces during this era. The later industrial maintenance and construction work involved similar materials.
To see how this kind of shipboard exposure happened, and the jobs most affected, see asbestos on Navy ships, shipyard asbestos exposure, and the military bases directory.
How the claim was resolved
The claim was brought against several companies that made or supplied asbestos products. It was resolved through settlement rather than a trial. The case addressed failure-to-warn claims, the physical and personal toll of the illness, and lost income. The result was a confidential multi-million dollar recovery from the responsible parties.
This is an example of how one case resolved. It is not a prediction or guarantee of any result. Every case is different. The outcome of any claim depends on the diagnosis, the service and work history, and which companies are found responsible. Settlement amounts in asbestos cases are often confidential and are not made public.
Trust funds and this type of exposure
The asbestos in ship engine and boiler spaces came from many manufacturers. A number of those companies later filed for bankruptcy and set up trust funds to pay claims. A veteran with this kind of exposure may have claims against more than one trust, separate from any lawsuit.
Gaskets and packing were made by companies such as Garlock, whose trust is listed in the asbestos trust funds directory. Boiler and pipe insulation point to trusts such as Owens-Corning Fibreboard, Babcock and Wilcox, and Combustion Engineering. For the full list, see the asbestos trust funds directory.
These are reference values from publicly disclosed trust documents and historical filings. They are not a promise of payment. Scheduled values and the percentage a trust pays change over time, and an actual recovery depends on an individual trust evaluation. We confirm current figures against the trust’s published documents during a case review.
VA benefits run alongside a claim
A settlement or a trust claim does not replace VA benefits. They are separate paths. A Navy veteran with mesothelioma may qualify for VA disability compensation, and a surviving spouse may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. See VA benefits for mesothelioma and filing a VA claim and a trust claim together.
For more on service-connected exposure, see Navy veteran asbestos exposure and the veterans claims hub.
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Frequently asked questions
What was this case about?
It describes a United States Navy veteran who was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma decades after his service. His claim was resolved through settlements with several companies that made asbestos products.
How much do Navy veteran mesothelioma cases settle for?
There is no set amount. This example resulted in a confidential multi-million dollar recovery, but every case is different. The result depends on the diagnosis, the exposure history, and which companies are responsible. This is an example of how one case resolved. It is not a prediction or guarantee of any result. Every case is different. The outcome of any claim depends on the diagnosis, the service and work history, and which companies are found responsible. Settlement amounts in asbestos cases are often confidential and are not made public.
Can a veteran file a lawsuit, a trust claim, and a VA claim?
In many cases, yes. A lawsuit and trust claims are against private companies. VA benefits come from the government. Because they are separate, a veteran can often pursue more than one at the same time. A case review can confirm which options apply to you.
What happens if the veteran has already passed away?
A surviving spouse or dependent can often still file. This can include a trust claim, a wrongful death claim, and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
How long after service can mesothelioma appear?
Mesothelioma commonly develops 10 to 50 years after a person is first around asbestos. A diagnosis decades after Navy service is common.
Sources
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/
- https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-special-asbestos.asp
More Navy asbestos case outcomes
See additional examples from the public record in Navy Veteran Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements.