Military Bases with Asbestos
For much of the 20th century, asbestos was used at military bases across every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. This dangerous mineral could be found in vehicle parts, hangars, barracks, and other buildings on base. Veterans who lived or worked at military bases with asbestos remain at risk of serious illnesses like mesothelioma, even decades after their service ended.
As a veteran-founded law firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy is committed to fighting for veterans with mesothelioma. We know which bases contained asbestos and have the resources to prove exposure, helping us to maximize compensation for those affected. Call (800) 326-8900 now.
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Legally Reviewed and Fact Checked by: Brian J. Cooke, Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy
Why Was There Asbestos on Military Bases?
Because it was resistant to heat and fire, asbestos was a common component in many construction materials, industrial products, and pieces of equipment used on military bases.
From the 1930s through the late 1970s, more than 200 military bases were built, renovated, or operated with asbestos-containing products. At the time, the health risks of asbestos exposure weren’t widely known.
A few of the asbestos-containing products used on military bases included:
- Adhesives
- Boiler insulation
- Brake linings
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- Heat shields
- Pipe insulation
- Pumps
- Roofing shingles
- Ropes
- Valves
Illnesses like mesothelioma can take 10-50 years to develop after asbestos exposure. Today, U.S. military veterans make up over 30% of all new mesothelioma diagnoses — a direct result of how widely asbestos was used on bases.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, our asbestos attorneys have helped over 3,800 veterans and their loved ones secure justice after a mesothelioma diagnosis. See if we may be able to fight for your family.
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for your family
Where Was Asbestos Found on Military Bases?
Asbestos was used in construction materials, vehicles, and mechanical equipment on nearly every U.S. military base built or renovated before the 1980s, including barracks, aircraft hangars, motor pools, boiler rooms, and shipyards.
Many veterans were exposed to asbestos simply by living, working, or performing routine maintenance on base. Airborne asbestos fibers can be unknowingly breathed in or swallowed, leading to a mesothelioma diagnosis decades later.
Find out more about where asbestos was found on military bases:
- Aircraft and hangars: Asbestos was commonly used in aircraft brakes and brake pads, insulation, engine components, and fireproofing materials.
- Barracks, housing, and base buildings: Asbestos could be found in insulation, floor tiles, ceiling materials, roofing products, pipe coverings, and joint compounds throughout base housing and administrative buildings.
- Boiler rooms and utility systems: Insulation that contained asbestos often lined pipes, boilers, and utility tunnels.
- Industrial equipment and machinery: Asbestos could be found in generators, pumps, compressors, electrical systems, and valves in industrial and mechanical facilities on base.
- Ships and shipyards: Asbestos was used extensively throughout engine rooms, boiler rooms, pipes, pumps, and other equipment onboard ships.
- Vehicles and maintenance facilities: Brakes, clutches, gaskets, and engine components on military vehicles commonly contained asbestos.
In some cases, it was virtually impossible to avoid exposure to asbestos during military service. The VA recognizes that many military occupations carried a high risk of exposure, including those involving construction, carpentry, manufacturing, and shipyard work.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we have extensive records on which asbestos-containing products were used on each military base, and we can help veterans and their families take legal action against the companies that supplied these products to the military.
“ A number of our veteran clients have been exposed to asbestos through boilers, engines, gaskets, insulation, and other components used in Navy ships, Army and Air Force bases, vehicles, and many more military assets through the early 1980s.”
– Brian Cooke, Firm Partner & U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
List of U.S. Military Bases with Asbestos
Military bases are designed to operate as self-sufficient communities, with housing, medical facilities, power plants, maintenance shops, and industrial buildings all located on a single installation. Many of these buildings contained asbestos products for fireproofing and insulation.
Major military bases with documented asbestos use include Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Travis Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, Naval Station Great Lakes, and Miramar Naval Air Base.
All branches of the military had bases that used asbestos:
Hundreds of military installations across all 50 states relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials before the 1980s. Veterans could encounter asbestos during construction, routine maintenance, repairs, renovations, or demolition work.
For over 25 years, our mesothelioma attorneys have represented veterans across every branch of the military. We know how to pinpoint military asbestos exposure and secure meaningful results for our clients.
U.S. Air Force Bases with Asbestos
Asbestos on U.S. Air Force bases was used extensively in aircraft, hangars, and base construction from the branch’s founding in 1947 through the 1980s.
In 1989, testing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana found asbestos levels as high as 50% at missile silo Quebec-12, which is 50 times higher than the EPA’s safety threshold. Additional readings found levels of 15-30% in nearby capsules, according to the Air Force Times.
U.S. Air Force bases with asbestos included:
- Altus Air Force Base – Altus, OK
- Amarillo Air Force Base/Amarillo Army Air Field – Amarillo, TX
- Andrews Air Force Base/Joint Base – Camp Springs, MD
- Benton Air Force Station – Scranton, PA
- Bergstrom Air Force Base – Austin, TX
- Brooks Field Air Force Base – San Antonio, TX
- Buckley Air Force Base – Aurora, CO
- Burns Flat Air Force Base/Altus Air Force Base – Altus, OK
- Carswell Air Force Base – Fort Worth, TX
- Chanute Air Force Base – Rantoul, IL
- Clark Air Base – Luzon, PI
- Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base – Burns Flat, OK
- Dobbins Air Reserve Base – Marietta, GA
- Dover Air Force Base – Dover, DE
- Duluth Air National Guard Base – Duluth, MN
- Eaker Air Force Base – Blytheville, AR
- Edwards Air Force Base – Edwards, CA
- Eglin Air Force Base – Valparaiso, FL
- Eielson Air Force Base – Fairbanks, AK
- Ellsworth Air Force Base – Piedmont, SD
- Elmendorf Air Force Base/Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson – Anchorage, AK
- Ethan Allen Air Force Base/Burlington Air National Guard Base – South Burlington, VT
- Forbes Air Force Base/Forbes Field Air National Guard Base/Topeka Army Air Field – Topeka, KS
- Glasgow Air Force Base – Glasgow, MT
- Grand Forks Air Force Base – Grand Forks, ND
- Griffiss Air Force Base – Rome, NY
- Gunter Air Force Base/Maxwell Air Force Base – Montgomery, AL
- Hanna City Air Force Station – Hanna City, IL
- Hanscom Air Force Base – Bedford, MA
- Hickam Air Force Base – Honolulu, HI
- Hill Air Force Base – Ogden, UT
- Holloman Air Force Base – Alamogordo, NM
- Homestead Air Reserve Base – Homestead, FL
- Hurlburt Field – Walton Beach, FL
- K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base – Marquette, MI
- Kadena Air Force Base – Okinawa, Japan
- Keesler Air Force Base – Biloxi, MS
- Kelly Air Force Base/Kelly Field Annex – San Antonio, TX
- Kirtland Air Force Base – Albuquerque, NM
- Lackland Air Force Base – San Antonio, TX
- Liberal Army Air Field – Liberal, KS
- Little Rock Air Force Base – Jacksonville, AR
- Los Angeles Air Force Base – El Segundo, CA
- Lowry Air Force Base – Denver, CO
- Luke Air Force Base – Glendale, AZ
- MacDill Air Force Base – Tampa, FL
- Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base – Montgomery, AL
- McClellan Air Force Base – Sacramento, CA
- McConnell Air Force Base – Wichita, KS
- Miles City Air Force Base – Miles City, MT
- Minot Air Force Base – Minot, ND
- Mountain Home Air Force Base – Boise, ID
- Nellis Air Force Base/Las Vegas Air Force Base – Nellis, NV
- Newark Air Force Base – Newark, OH
- Norton Air Force Base – San Bernardino, CA
- Offutt Air Force Base – Bellevue, NE
- Onizuka Air Force Station – Sunnyvale, CA
- Othello Air Force Station – Othello, WA
- Parks Air Force Base/Camp Parks – Pleasanton, CA
- Patrick Air Force Base – Satellite Beach, FL
- Pease Air Force Base – Portsmouth, NH
- Peterson Air Force Base – Colorado Springs, CO
- Pinecastle/McCoy Air Force Base – Orlando, FL
- Plattsburgh Air Force Base – Plattsburgh, NY
- Quonset Point Air National Guard Station – North Kingstown, RI
- Randolph Air Force Base – San Antonio, TX
- Robins Air Force Base – Warner Robins, GA
- Sampson Air Force Base – Seneca Lake, NY
- Schilling Air Force Base/Smokey Hills Air Force Base – Salina, KS
- Schofield Barracks/Fort Shafter – Wahiawa, HI
- Scott Air Force Base – Belleville, IL
- Selfridge Air Force Base – Harrison Township, MI
- Sheppard Air Force Base – Wichita Falls, TX
- Suwon Air Base – Suwon, South Korea
- Tinker Air Force Base – Oklahoma City, OK
- Torrejon Air Force Base – Madrid, Spain
- Travis Air Force Base – Fairfield, CA
- Turner Air Force Base – Albany, GA
- Tyndall Air Force Base – Panama City, FL
- Vandenberg Air Force Base – Lompoc, CA
- Warren Air Force Base/Francis E. Warren Air Force Base – Cheyenne, WY
- Webb Air Force Base – Big Spring, TX
- Westover Air Reserve Base – Chicopee, MA
- Whiteman Air Force Base – Sedalia, MO
- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base – Dayton, OH
- Wurtsmith Air Force Base – Oscoda Charter Township, MI
Aircraft brake pads, engine gaskets, heat shields, and cockpit insulation commonly contained asbestos because of the material’s heat-resistant properties, putting mechanics who serviced these components at high risk of exposure.
“For 4 years, we mainly were in Orlando at McCoy Air Force Base. My husband had to work on these engines. I remember the cowlings had asbestos in there to keep them from heating up.”
– Anita, Wife of U.S. Air Force Veteran & Firm Client
U.S. Army Bases with Asbestos
Members of the U.S. Army may have encountered asbestos in barracks, motor pools, and equipment across bases throughout the U.S., particularly during construction, vehicle maintenance, and demolition work.
Asbestos has been found on over 100 U.S. Army bases across the country, with Texas, California, Georgia, and Virginia home to the largest number of installations.
U.S. Army bases with asbestos included:
- Aberdeen Proving Ground – Aberdeen, MD
- Anniston Army Depot – Anniston, AL
- Biggs Army Airfield – El Paso, TX
- Blue Grass Army Depot – Richmond, KY
- Camp Bowie – Brownwood, TX
- Camp Bullis – San Antonio, TX
- Camp Dawson West Virginia Training Area (formerly Dawson Army Air Field) – Kingwood, WV
- Camp Dodge – Johnston, IA
- Camp Frank D. Merrill – Dahlonega, GA
- Camp Haan – Riverside, CA
- Camp Joseph T. Robinson – North Little Rock, AR
- Camp Mackall – Hoffman, NC
- Camp Mabry – Austin, TX
- Camp Murray – Tacoma, WA
- Camp Navajo – Bellemont, AZ
- Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) – Dublin, CA
- Camp Roberts – San Miguel, CA
- Camp San Luis Obispo – San Luis Obispo, CA
- Camp Stanley Storage Activity – Boerne, TX
- Camp Swift – Bastrop, TX
- Carlisle Barracks – Carlisle, PA
- Corpus Christi Army Depot – Corpus Christi, TX
- Detroit Arsenal – Warren, MI
- Fort A.P. Hill – Bowling Green, VA
- Fort Belvoir – Fort Belvoir, VA
- Fort Benning – Columbus, GA
- Fort Bliss – El Paso, TX
- Fort Bragg – Fayetteville, NC
- Fort Campbell – Clarksville, TN
- Fort Carson – Colorado Springs, CO
- Fort Chaffee – Fort Smith, AR
- Fort Devens – Ayer, MA
- Fort Detrick – Frederick, MD
- Fort Dix (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) – Fort Dix, NJ
- Fort Drum – Watertown, NY
- Fort Eustis – Newport News, VA
- Fort Gillem – Forest Park, GA
- Fort Gordon – Augusta, GA
- Fort Greely – Delta Junction, AK
- Fort Hamilton – Brooklyn, NY
- Fort Hood – Killeen, TX
- Fort Huachuca – Sierra Vista, AZ
- Fort Hunter Liggett – Jolon, CA
- Fort Irwin – Barstow, CA
- Fort Jackson – Columbia, SC
- Fort Knox – Fort Knox, KY
- Fort Leavenworth – Leavenworth, KS
- Fort Lee – Petersburg, VA
- Fort Leonard Wood – Waynesville, MO
- Fort Lewis (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) – Tacoma, WA
- Fort McClellan – Anniston, AL
- Fort McNair – Washington, DC
- Fort McPherson – Atlanta, GA
- Fort Meade – Fort Meade, MD
- Fort Monmouth – Eatontown, NJ
- Fort Monroe – Hampton, VA
- Fort Myer – Arlington, VA
- Fort Pickett – Blackstone, VA
- Fort Polk – Leesville, LA
- Fort Richardson – Anchorage, AK
- Fort Riley – Manhattan, KS
- Fort Rucker – Daleville, AL
- Fort Sam Houston – San Antonio, TX
- Fort Shafter – Honolulu, HI
- Fort Sill – Lawton, OK
- Fort Stewart – Hinesville, GA
- Fort Wainwright – Fairbanks, AK
- Hawthorne Army Depot – Hawthorne, NV
- Holston Army Ammunition Plant – Kingsport, TN
- Hunter Army Airfield – Savannah, GA
- Iowa Army Plant – Middletown, IA
- Letterkenny Army Depot – Chambersburg, PA
- Los Alamos Demolition – Los Alamos, NM
- Martindale Army Airfield – San Antonio, TX
- McAlester Army Ammunition Plant – McAlester, OK
- Milan Army Ammunition Plant – Milan, TN
- New Cumberland Army Depot – New Cumberland, PA
- Picatinny Arsenal – Morris County, NJ
- Pine Bluff Arsenal – Pine Bluff, AR
- Pohakuloa Training Area – Hilo, HI
- Presidio of Monterey – Monterey, CA
- Pueblo Chemical Depot – Pueblo, CO
- Radford Army Ammunition Plant – Radford, VA
- Red River Army Depot – Texarkana, TX
- Redstone Arsenal – Huntsville, AL
- Rock Island Arsenal – Rock Island, IL
- Schofield Barracks – Wahiawa, HI
- Sierra Army Depot – Herlong, CA
- Simmons Army Airfield – Fort Bragg, NC
- Soldier Systems Center – Natick, MA
- Tobyhanna Army Depot – Tobyhanna, PA
- Tripler Army Medical Center – Honolulu, HI
- United States Military Academy – West Point, NY
- U.S. Disciplinary Barracks – Fort Leavenworth, KS
- Umatilla Chemical Depot – Umatilla, OR
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center – Washington, DC
- Warrenton Training Center – Warrenton, VA
- Watervliet Arsenal – Watervliet, NY
- Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center – Greenville, KY
- Wheeler Army Airfield – Wahiawa, HI
- White Sands Missile Range – Las Cruces, NM
- Yakima Training Center – Yakima, WA
- Yuma Proving Ground – Yuma, AZ
Asbestos was so common on U.S. Army bases that many soldiers came into contact with it during routine maintenance and repairs, unaware of the danger it posed until decades after their service ended. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to take legal action.
“If you’ve been exposed in the military, you’re not suing the U.S. government. We’re filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of the products that were sold to the Army.”
– Juan Bauta, Firm Partner
U.S. Coast Guard Bases with Asbestos
Asbestos was widely used in U.S. Coast Guard facilities built before the 1980s because of its fire-resistant and insulating properties. It could be found in barracks, administrative buildings, maintenance shops, boiler rooms, and other structures.
Veterans aren’t the only ones at risk. Civilians who worked at the USCG’s Curtis Bay shipyard had a mesothelioma mortality rate more than 5 times higher than the general population, according to the Journal of Environmental & Occupational Health.
U.S. Coast Guard bases with asbestos include:
- 12th Coast Guard District – San Francisco, CA
- Coast Guard Academy – New London, CT
- Coast Guard Base – St. George, Staten Island, NY
- Coast Guard District Office – St. Louis, MO
- Coast Guard Station – Alameda, CA
- Coast Guard Station – Curtis Bay, MD
- Coast Guard Station – Gloucester, NJ
- Coast Guard Station – Groton, CT
- Coast Guard Station – Hampton, MI
- Coast Guard Station – Long Beach, CA (Pier 16)
- Coast Guard Station – Terminal Island, CA
- Coast Guard Yard – Curtis Bay, MD (Baltimore)
- Two Rock Coast Guard Station – Petaluma, CA
In addition to U.S. Coast Guard bases, many service members were exposed to asbestos aboard U.S. Coast Guard cutters built before 1991. This mineral was commonly used in engine rooms, boiler rooms, pipe insulation, flooring, gaskets, and other ship components.
Routine maintenance, repairs, and overhauls could disturb these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air.
U.S. Marine Corps Bases with Asbestos
U.S. Marine Corps veterans faced asbestos exposure both on base and aboard the amphibious assault ships and transports that carried them.
Combat engineers and vehicle mechanics often faced the highest risk of exposure on U.S. Marine Corps bases, largely due to their repeated contact with asbestos-containing insulation, brakes, and gaskets used in tanks, amphibious vehicles, and construction materials.
Find out which U.S. Marine bases used asbestos:
- 29 Palms Marine Corps Base – Twentynine Palms, CA
- Marine Barracks, Port Royal – Washington, DC
- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point – Havelock, NC
- Marine Corps Air Station El Toro – Irvine, CA
- Marine Corps Air Station Miramar – San Diego, CA
- Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station Mojave – Mojave, CA
- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune – Jacksonville, NC
- Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton – Oceanside, CA
- Marine Corps Base Quantico – Quantico, VA
- Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow – Barstow, CA
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island – Port Royal, SC
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego – San Diego, CA
Unfortunately, the risk of asbestos exposure on U.S. Marine Corps bases didn’t end in the mid-20th century. Legacy asbestos in older buildings continued to pose a risk to service members and their families for decades to come.
In 2004, an inspection of family housing areas at Marine Corps Base Quantico found that 7 of the 18 areas contained friable asbestos, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Asbestos on U.S. Naval Bases & Shipyards
U.S. Navy veterans have historically faced some of the highest asbestos exposure risks among military personnel due to the widespread use of asbestos aboard ships, submarines, and in naval shipyards.
Asbestos-containing materials were commonly used throughout boiler rooms, engine rooms, and other areas with equipment designed to withstand extreme heat and prevent fires.
Because many of these areas were enclosed and poorly ventilated, asbestos fibers could linger in the air for extended periods, putting nearby sailors at risk.
Asbestos could be found on the following U.S. Naval bases and shipyards:
- Arlington Navy Annex – Arlington, VA
- Brooklyn Navy Yard – Brooklyn, NY
- Charleston Naval Shipyard – North Charleston, SC
- Great Lakes Naval Training Center (Naval Station Great Lakes) – Great Lakes, IL
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard – San Francisco, CA
- Indian Head Naval Facilities – Indian Head, MD
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard – Long Beach, CA
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard – Vallejo, CA
- Miramar Naval Air Base (Naval Air Station Miramar) – San Diego, CA
- Naval Air Station Cecil Field – Jacksonville, FL
- Naval Air Station Glynco – Brunswick, GA
- Naval Air Station Jacksonville – Jacksonville, FL
- Naval Base San Diego – San Diego, CA
- Naval Station Everett – Everett, WA
- Naval Submarine Base New London – Groton, CT
- Naval Training Center San Diego – San Diego, CA
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard – Portsmouth, VA
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard – Pearl Harbor, HI
- Pensacola Naval Air Station – Pensacola, FL
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard – Philadelphia, PA
- Port Hueneme Naval Base (Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme) – Port Hueneme, CA
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard – Kittery, ME
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard – Bremerton, WA
- Sampson Naval Training Station – Romulus, NY
- U.S. Naval Academy – Annapolis, MD
- Washington Navy Yard – Washington, DC
Air monitoring during asbestos removal operations at Long Beach Naval Shipyard recorded concentrations averaging 40 fibers per cubic centimeter and reaching as high as 150 fibers per cubic centimeter— hundreds of times higher than OSHA’s permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter, according to MDPI.
Because sailors often worked and lived aboard ships around the clock, researchers have noted that standard workplace exposure limits, which were developed around an 8-hour workday, may underestimate the true exposure risks faced by U.S. Navy personnel.
Whether you served aboard a ship’s engine room, repaired aircraft brakes on a U.S. Air Force base, or lived in barracks built decades ago, we can help trace your specific exposure back to the products and companies responsible.
Didn’t See Your Base?
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma after serving in the military, our asbestos attorneys are here to help. We can help you figure out when, where, and how you were exposed to asbestos. Contact our team now for free.
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for your family
Military Occupations and Asbestos Exposure Risks
While nearly anyone stationed on base before the 1980s could have come into contact with asbestos, certain occupations put service members in close, repeated contact with this mineral — significantly increasing their risk of mesothelioma decades later.
Military occupations with a high risk of asbestos exposure include pipefitters, welders, boiler operators, shipyard workers, construction workers, and demolition specialists, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
These occupations often involved directly working with asbestos-containing materials, such as insulation, gaskets, pipes, and building products. Cutting, repairing, removing, or replacing these materials could release asbestos fibers into the air.
Exposure often came down to the work itself, not just the base or branch — which is why understanding your specific role during service is often the key to uncovering how, when, and where you were exposed.
Asbestos in Military Housing
Asbestos exposure wasn’t always tied to a job. Service members and their families may have also been exposed due to dangerous asbestos-containing products found in older military housing.
Asbestos in military housing could be found in:
- Ceiling materials
- Cement products
- Floor tiles
- Insulation
- Pipe covering
- Roofing products
In a 2020 review of 8 military installations, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General found that 75% failed to notify residents about asbestos-containing materials in their homes, while 62.5% didn’t maintain accurate records on where the asbestos was located.
It wasn’t only older housing that put families at risk of military asbestos exposure. Service members could unknowingly carry fibers home on their uniforms, putting loved ones at risk of secondhand asbestos exposure.
Proving Asbestos Exposure in the Military
Because asbestos exposure in the military often happened decades before a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s important to work with experienced asbestos attorneys who know how to track down military records and connect your service history to specific asbestos products.
Evidence used to prove military asbestos exposure may include:
- DD Form 214 (DD 214)
- Lay witness statements or buddy statements
- Medical records
- Nexus letter
- Ship deck logs
These records can help provide a clearer picture of where and how a veteran may have encountered asbestos during military service by documenting their duties, assignments, and the locations where they served.
DD Form 214
A DD Form 214, also known as a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, confirms details about a veteran’s time in the armed forces, including their branch of service, dates of active duty, and military occupational specialty (MOS).
This document is often the starting point for building an asbestos exposure case by allowing an attorney to cross-reference a veteran’s service history against known asbestos-containing environments to help establish a link between their time in the military and their diagnosis.
Lay Witness Statements
A lay witness statement, sometimes called a buddy statement, is a written account from someone who personally observed a veteran’s work conditions or military duties.
These statements may come from fellow service members, supervisors, coworkers, or others who can describe the environments where a veteran worked, including if there were asbestos-containing products present.
Medical Records
To build a strong claim, our attorneys can collect medical records confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis, along with documentation of any related treatment history.
These records may include a pathology report confirming mesothelioma cells, imaging results like chest X-rays, CT scans, or PET scans, and physician notes documenting the diagnosis and treatment plan.
Nexus Letter
A nexus letter is a medical opinion linking your mesothelioma diagnosis directly to asbestos exposure during your military service. The letter is typically written by a physician after reviewing the veteran’s service records, medical history, and exposure documentation.
To meet the VA’s standard, the letter must state that it is “at least as likely as not” that the veteran’s asbestos exposure occurred during military service and caused their diagnosis.
Ship Deck Logs
For U.S. Navy veterans, ship deck logs can help confirm which asbestos-containing materials were aboard a specific vessel during your time of service.
These logs, along with a ship’s maintenance and repair records, can document specific dates when insulation, gaskets, or piping were installed, repaired, or replaced — work that often disturbed asbestos fibers and released them into the air.
When paired with a veteran’s own service dates aboard that vessel, deck logs can help attorneys pinpoint not just that a ship contained asbestos, but the specific timeframes when a veteran’s duties may have put them in direct contact with it.
Why Work with Our Military Asbestos Exposure Lawyers?
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we’ve spent over 25 years fighting for veterans who were exposed to asbestos while serving their country — and we’ve secured billions of dollars in mesothelioma compensation on their behalf.
Our firm has the resources and experience to build a strong case on your behalf, including:
- VA-accredited attorneys and advocates who know how military service connects to asbestos exposure and can help you prepare your VA benefit claim alongside a legal claim
- On-staff registered nurses who can help you understand your diagnosis and treatment options while answering any health-related questions throughout your case
- A warehouse of evidence, including documented exposure sites and asbestos-containing products, built from decades of case history across every branch of the military
- In-house investigators who can trace your service record back to the specific bases, ships, jobs, and equipment tied to your exposure
As a veteran-founded law firm, our military asbestos exposure lawyers understand the unique challenges veterans with mesothelioma face — and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I served from 1984 to 1988 as a field radio operator with Third Marines. There’s a number of the attorneys and support staff investigators that are veterans. John Simmons, the founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy, is an Army veteran. As a military member, you're taught not to complain. You're taught to just complete the task. Veterans sometimes feel a real hesitation to come forward and say, "This is what's going on. This is what's happening with me. This is my injury," because it's just not in their nature.
There’s a number of us that have served in the various branches of the military, and it helps us to hear what they're going through and help them express those things in a way that they're not embarrassed to do so. We help veterans navigate their unique legal needs through a little bit of a shared experience.
You have an understanding of what the ships are like, what the barracks are like, what the gear is like. You have firsthand knowledge of having done many of the things that they do, what they've been through. Being away from your family for extended periods of time, it also helps you to understand the challenges they have through the Veterans Administration and even sometimes getting health care through the Veterans Administration.
The VA does a great job in trying to help these veterans, but some of these diseases are very unique and need specialists, and we're able to put these veterans in touch with folks that can help them. Being able to speak that language and hear those issues because you've been through it, you've experienced those things firsthand, you know exactly what it is they're feeling. What that does is it gives us a unique perspective as to the veteran's experience, what they're going through, and their commitment to the country.
Military Asbestos Exposure Compensation for Veterans & Family
Veterans with mesothelioma may be eligible for compensation from mesothelioma lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and VA benefit claims. This money can help pay for treatment costs, lost wages, and other expenses.
Family members of veterans who have passed away may also be able to pursue compensation on their loved one’s behalf from a wrongful death claim.
Just a few of the results we’ve secured for military families include:
- Over $40 million for a U.S. Navy veteran and boiler tender
- $9 million to a U.S. Air Force veteran and mechanic in California
- $5.79 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in New Hampshire
- $4.3 million to the family of a 52-year-old U.S. Marine who died of mesothelioma
- $3.4 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Florida who served aboard the USS St. Louis, USS Dash, and USS Assurance
- $4.2 million to a U.S. Army veteran and welder in Arizona
- $4.3 million for the family of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who passed away from mesothelioma
- $1.7 million to a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and electrician in South Carolina
- $4.3 million for a U.S. Army veteran and inspector in Ohio
- $3.44 million to a U.S. Navy veteran and repairman in Alabama
- $4 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Massachusetts
- $3.9 million to a U.S. Army veteran and painter in Maryland
- $4.25 million for a U.S. Air Force veteran and welder in Indiana
- $5.3 million to a U.S. Navy veteran and boiler tender in Illinois
- $7.7 million for a U.S. Army veteran in New York
Veterans made sacrifices to serve and protect our country. After a mesothelioma diagnosis, they shouldn’t have to face the added burden of financial uncertainty due to medical expenses and lost wages.
We can pursue compensation from all of the avenues available to you in order to maximize your potential payout. Filing a lawsuit does not impact your ability to pursue VA benefits, which can amount to over $3,930 per month.
”Simmons Hanly Conroy pursued every aspect that helped mom and dad financially. I was happy that dad had the peace of mind of knowing that he got to see some of that. Didn’t spend any of it, but he got to know that it was there to take care of mom before he died. That was a good thing.”
– Mike, Son of U.S. Air Force Veteran
Get Help for Exposure to Asbestos in the Military
If you or a loved one suffered from exposure to asbestos in the military and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, you deserve a legal team that understands both the disease and the sacrifice behind your service.
Find out why military families choose Simmons Hanly Conroy:
- Founded by a U.S. Army veteran
- Over 25 years of experience handling asbestos claims
- More than $10.6 billion secured from mesothelioma lawsuits
- Represented over 3,800 veterans with mesothelioma
- 100+ attorneys who can help families in all 50 states
- VA-accredited attorneys and veterans from all branches of the U.S. military on staff
- More than $21 million donated to mesothelioma and cancer research
There are no upfront costs to hire our attorneys. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning families pay nothing unless we secure compensation on their behalf.
Call (800) 326-8900 now or fill out our online form to get started with a free legal consultation.
Our team includes attorneys who served in the military, giving them firsthand knowledge of the risks veterans faced.
Asbestos on Military Bases FAQs
What military bases have asbestos?
Nearly every U.S. military base that was built or renovated between the 1930s and 1970s used asbestos-containing materials in some form, accounting for well over 200 bases throughout all 50 states.
Affected installations span every branch of the military, from U.S. Army posts like Fort Bragg and Fort Hood to U.S. Navy shipyards such as Norfolk and Pearl Harbor, U.S. Air Force bases like Wright-Patterson, and U.S. Marine Corps bases like Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune.
Veterans with asbestos-related illnesses may be eligible for compensation to help with medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact Simmons Hanly Conroy now.
How do I know if I was exposed to asbestos in the military?
If you served on a military base, ship, or aircraft before the 1980s, there’s a strong chance you may have encountered asbestos at some point.
Certain jobs like mechanics, pipefitters, welders, and boiler technicians carried a higher risk of exposure, but asbestos was also present in barracks, hangars, and other buildings where nearly anyone stationed on base could have been exposed.
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, our attorneys and investigators can review your service record, duty stations, and job history to help determine when, where, and how you may have been exposed.
What if I was exposed to asbestos in the military?
If you were exposed to asbestos in the military, it’s important to tell your doctor about your exposure history, even if you feel healthy now. Asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma can take 10 to 50 years to develop, so ongoing health monitoring is important even decades after your service ended.
Your doctor can then help you watch for any early signs of an asbestos-related disease and order the right diagnostic tests if needed.
“I would tell anybody who has worked around asbestos that they should have an X-ray every year, once a year. It may save your life,” said Denis, a mesothelioma client the firm recently helped.
How do you prove asbestos exposure in the military?
To prove asbestos exposure in the military, you typically need a mesothelioma or asbestos-related diagnosis along with documentation connecting your service history to a specific base, ship, job, or piece of equipment where asbestos was present.
Documents that may be used to prove military asbestos exposure include:
- DD 214 discharge papers confirming your branch, service dates, and military occupational specialty
- Service personnel records detailing your duty stations and assignments
- Ship deck logs identifying asbestos-containing materials aboard a specific vessel
- Medical records confirming your diagnosis
- A nexus letter linking your diagnosis to asbestos exposure during your military service
Our attorneys and investigators can help track down this documentation on your behalf, even if you no longer have your own records. Call (800) 326-8900 now to learn more.
Is asbestos exposure a VA disability?
Yes. If you were exposed to asbestos during your military service and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible to file a VA claim for health care and financial compensation.
Mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating, which means you may qualify for over $3,930 a month, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you have a case, our VA-accredited attorneys can help you prepare your VA claim and take legal action on your behalf.
What is the average settlement for asbestos exposure?
Settlements for illnesses linked to military asbestos exposure vary widely, but many of our clients have received over $1 million in compensation:
- $7.7 million for a U.S. Army veteran in New York
- $4.14 million to a U.S. Air Force veteran and welder in Florida
- $3.44 million for a U.S. Navy veteran and repairman in Alabama
- $2.35 million to a U.S. Navy veteran and truck driver from Texas
- $3.3 million for the family of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Ohio who died from pleural mesothelioma
- $2.33 million to a U.S. Navy veteran and maintenance mechanic in Kentucky
- $3.5 million for a union carpenter and U.S. Navy veteran in California
- $4.3 million to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Ohio
- $2.76 million to a U.S. Navy veteran with pleural mesothelioma in Nebraska
- $3.86 million for a U.S. Army veteran and mechanic in Tennessee
- $5.2 million to a U.S. Navy veteran and laborer in Colorado
The exact amount depends on factors like your diagnosis, age, exposure history, and how well that exposure can be documented.
How much do the best mesothelioma attorneys for veterans with military asbestos exposure charge?
There are no upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs to hire our top mesothelioma attorneys for military asbestos exposure.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we secure compensation on your behalf.
Reviewed by: Brian J. Cooke Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy
- Fact-Checked
- Legal Reviewer
Asbestos attorney Brian Cooke joined the firm in 2004 and is now one of the firm’s partners. He previously served two tours of duty with the United States Marine Corps after graduating from University of Missouri Columbia’s School of Law. As an asbestos attorney, Brian has built his legal practice on being a legal voice for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. He works hard to put his clients first.