If you are a veteran who served in New York, or who was stationed at a New York base or shipyard, you may have been exposed to asbestos during your service. New York’s military heritage centers on the Brooklyn Navy Yard, established in 1801, which built warships including the USS Missouri and at its World War II peak employed more than 70,000 workers before the Navy decommissioned it in 1966. Asbestos was used heavily in shipbuilding and in older Army post construction across the state. Veterans who served in New York, and family members who lived on New York installations, 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 New York decades ago may receive a diagnosis only now. This page explains where New York veterans were exposed and the compensation options available. There is no cost to speak with us about your service history.
New York military installations with asbestos
New York’s asbestos-era military footprint was heaviest in Navy shipbuilding and Army ordnance, anchored by the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the state’s arsenals and depots. The installations below appear in public records as having used asbestos-containing materials during the asbestos era. A dedicated page for each, with its history and the trust funds most relevant to it, is published as the directory expands.
| Installation | Branch | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Military Academy at West Point | Army | Active | Historic academy on the Hudson River; older buildings predate asbestos restrictions. |
| Fort Drum | Army | Active | Northern New York post, home of the 10th Mountain Division. |
| Watervliet Arsenal | Army | Active | Established 1813; the Army’s oldest active arsenal, known for cannon manufacturing. |
| Seneca Army Depot | Army | Closed | Munitions storage 1941 until BRAC closure in 2000. |
| Plattsburgh Air Force Base | Air Force | Closed | Strategic Air Command base; closed 1995 under BRAC. |
| Griffiss Air Force Base | Air Force | Closed | In Rome, NY; closed 1995, now a technology park. |
New York naval shipyards
Shipyards carried some of the heaviest asbestos exposure of any setting. New York shipyards documented as using asbestos materials include:
| Shipyard | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Navy Yard | Closed | Major Navy shipbuilding yard from 1801; built the USS Missouri; asbestos used in boilers, pipes, and insulation; decommissioned 1966. |
Inclusion reflects documented use of asbestos materials at an installation. It does not establish that any individual was exposed. Exposure depends on a veteran’s job, location, and years of service.
Where New York veterans were exposed
New York veterans encountered asbestos in many of the same places as veterans elsewhere. Common exposure sources included:
- Boiler rooms and engine rooms aboard ships and at steam and heating plants
- Pipe insulation, gaskets, and valve packing on steam systems
- Shipyard and depot repair and overhaul work
- Aircraft maintenance at naval and air stations
- Building materials such as floor tile, fireproofing, and cement panels in older structures
- Vehicle brakes, clutches, and gaskets in motor pools
For more on shipboard exposure, see asbestos on Navy ships. For exposure across the services, see the military bases directory and Navy veteran asbestos exposure.
Who was exposed
Veterans in several roles faced higher asbestos exposure in New York. These include machinist’s mates, boiler technicians, hull maintenance technicians, and enginemen who worked in ship engineering spaces; shipyard and depot workers; 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.
New York factors that can affect a claim
New York has its own rules and resources that can matter for a veteran’s claim. A few points New York veterans often ask about:
- Filing deadlines. New York sets time limits for filing personal injury and wrongful death claims related to asbestos, and the timing can differ for a living claimant and for a family filing after a death. Because the rules are specific, it is worth confirming your situation early.
- VA medical care in New York. The VA operates medical centers across New York. A diagnosis and treatment record supports both VA and trust claims.
- State residence is not required. Many veterans were stationed in New York but live elsewhere now. A claim is based on service history and diagnosis, not current residence.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard built the battleship USS Missouri, aboard which Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945. New York 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 veterans are still being diagnosed today.
Trust funds covering New York veteran exposure
Many companies that supplied asbestos products to military installations 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 military and shipyard exposure include Babcock & Wilcox and Combustion Engineering for boilers, Owens Corning Fibreboard for Kaylo pipe and block insulation, Pittsburgh Corning for Unibestos pipe insulation, and Johns-Manville for cement panels, wallboard, and sprayed fireproofing used in base buildings.
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 New York veterans
A New York 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 can often 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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Frequently asked questions
Which New York bases had asbestos?
Installations across New York, including United States Military Academy at West Point, are documented as having used asbestos-containing materials during the asbestos era. The list above is being expanded with a dedicated page for each.
I served in New York 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. New York does set filing deadlines once a diagnosis is made, so it helps to confirm timing early.
Do I have to live in New York to file based on New York service?
No. A claim is based on your service history and diagnosis, not your current state of residence.
Can I receive VA benefits and an asbestos trust payment?
In many cases, yes. Trust funds are paid by the manufacturers’ trusts, not the VA, so the two are usually separate paths. A case review can confirm which options apply.
What if my family member died from mesothelioma after serving in New York?
A surviving spouse or dependent may qualify for DIC and may be able to file trust claims. There is no cost to speak with us about whether these options apply.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Navy_Yard
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watervliet_Arsenal
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/