If you served in the military and were around NARCO asbestos products, you may be able to file a claim with the North American Refractories (NARCO) Asbestos Trust. Asbestos trust funds are set up by companies that made asbestos products and later filed for bankruptcy. They are separate from the VA, so a veteran can often pursue a trust claim and VA benefits at the same time. There is no cost to speak with us about your service history.
About NARCO and its asbestos trust
North American Refractories Company filed for Chapter 11 in 2002. Its asbestos trust was established in 2013 with roughly $800 million in initial funding.
NARCO asbestos products
The North American Refractories (NARCO) Asbestos Trust covers exposure to products such as:
- refractory bricks and castables used to line boilers
- high-temperature insulation
Most of these products contained asbestos during the period early 1900s-1980s.
Who may qualify
Exposure to NARCO products was most common among Navy boiler rooms, Army industrial heating sites, and Air Force base heating plants. The roles most often associated with this exposure include boiler technicians and machinist’s mates. NARCO refractory lined boilers and furnaces aboard ship and at base power plants.
Qualifying for a trust claim generally depends on a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease, evidence of exposure to the company’s products, and meeting the trust’s documentation requirements.
Scheduled values and payments
The North American Refractories (NARCO) Asbestos Trust publishes scheduled values for different diseases. For mesothelioma, the historical scheduled value has been in the range of $90,000, and the trust has paid a percentage of that value (reported in the range of 8 to 12 percent in recent public filings).
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.
How to file a claim with the NARCO trust
A trust claim generally involves confirming the diagnosis, documenting where and when the exposure happened, completing the trust’s claim form, and submitting supporting records. A claim can move forward whether the veteran is living or a family member is filing on behalf of someone who has passed.
Exposure on ships, bases, and in service jobs
NARCO products were encountered in several military settings. To see where this exposure happened, and the jobs most affected, see asbestos on Navy ships, the military bases directory, and asbestos trust funds for veterans. You can also pursue VA benefits in parallel: see VA benefits for mesothelioma and filing a VA claim and a trust claim together.
For the full list of trusts most relevant to veterans, see the asbestos trust funds directory.
Get help with your claim
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
What is the North American Refractories (NARCO) Asbestos Trust?
It is a bankruptcy trust set up to compensate people harmed by NARCO asbestos products. North American Refractories Company filed for Chapter 11 in 2002. Its asbestos trust was established in 2013 with roughly $800 million in initial funding.
Can I file a NARCO trust claim and a VA claim?
In many cases, yes. Trust claims are paid by the manufacturer’s trust, not the VA, so the two are usually separate paths. A case review can confirm which options apply to you.
How much does a trust claim pay?
For mesothelioma, this trust’s historical scheduled value has been around $90,000, and it pays a percentage of that. 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.
Can a family file if the veteran has passed away?
Yes. A surviving spouse or dependent can often file a trust claim and may also qualify for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
Sources
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/
- https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-special-asbestos.asp