Veterans and Mesothelioma: Understanding Your Risk and Your Rights in 2026

Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: March 27, 2026

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Veterans and Mesothelioma: The Link to Military Asbestos Exposure

Legal Rights for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos During Their Military Service

Legal Options for Veterans With Mesothelioma: Lawsuits, Trust Funds, and Wrongful Death Claims

Military Branches Most Affected by Asbestos

How Army Soldiers and Active Duty Personnel Were Exposed to Asbestos

The PNW Asbestos Map: High-Risk Locations for WA and OR Veterans

How Oslund Udo Little Can Help Military Victims of Asbestos Exposure

Military and Veteran Asbestos Exposure FAQs

Key Takeaways

Many Pacific Northwest veterans have developed mesothelioma and other illnesses from exposure to asbestos while serving their country.
Shipyard workers, heating and cooling technicians, mechanics, and construction workers are at particularly high risk.
Veterans with asbestos-related illness may be eligible for compensation through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs claims, asbestos trust funds, and third-party lawsuits.

Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service who later developed mesothelioma may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For decades, asbestos was used throughout military bases, ships, vehicles, and equipment, placing service members at risk. Countless veterans in the Pacific Northwest were exposed while serving at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Swan Island Shipyard, Fort Hood, and more.

Since 1995, Oslund Udo Little has represented veterans and military families harmed by asbestos exposure. With offices in Seattle and Portland, our firm focuses on asbestos litigation and has recovered over $1 billion for clients across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. If your illness is connected to your military service, our attorneys are prepared to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Veterans and Mesothelioma: The Link to Military Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can develop from exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once widely used in civilian and military industrial applications because of its heat-resistance, durability, and affordability.

Military veterans are at high risk of developing mesothelioma, especially those who served before 1980. Every branch extensively used asbestos for a wide range of purposes, including in housing, vessels, pipes, ships and shipyards.

You might have handled asbestos if you belonged to any of the following groups during your military service:

Plumbers and pipefitters
Shipfitters
Boilermakers
Steamfitters

What Is Asbestos Exposure?

Asbestos exposure occurs when the mineral’s microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air, where they can be inhaled or ingested. The fibers can become lodged in bodily tissue, potentially causing long-term damage and disease.

The military widely used asbestos in numerous applications because of the mineral’s heat resistance and durability. When disturbed, asbestos-containing materials release fibers into the air, leading to serious illnesses, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.

How Were Military Members, Veterans, and Their Families Exposed to Asbestos?

Military service members were exposed to asbestos while working on ships, aircraft, vehicles, boilers, insulation systems, barracks, and base infrastructure. Asbestos was used extensively in engine rooms, pipe insulation, flooring, roofing, brake systems, and heating units. Exposure occurred during routine maintenance, shipyard repairs, demolition, and combat-zone construction.

Secondary asbestos exposure occurred when veterans also unknowingly carried asbestos fibers home on their uniforms, hair, and skin, exposing their spouses, children, and other members of the household and putting them at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma Risks in Military Veterans: Ongoing Asbestos Exposure and Long-Term Health Effects

Mesothelioma has a long latency period, often developing 20 to 60 years after exposure. Because asbestos use was widespread into the 1980s, many veterans and seniors are only now receiving diagnoses decades after their service. Even brief or intermittent exposure during active duty can result in serious illness later in life.

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Legal Rights for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos During Their Military Service

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease may have several legal and financial paths available to them. Military asbestos exposure cases are unique, and understanding your rights requires careful evaluation of where and how the exposure occurred.

At Oslund Udo Little, we help veterans and military families across Washington, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest understand all available options. Our attorneys guide clients through both VA-related benefits and third-party civil claims to pursue the full compensation they deserve.

What Types of VA Disability Benefits Are Available in 2026?

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits to veterans who have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Those with disabling service-connected diseases may qualify for VA disability benefits, including monthly non-taxable compensation. The amount of these payments depends on the recipient’s degree of disability.

Some affected veterans who served during wartime may qualify for a pension and receive supplemental income. Recipients with significant disabilities may be eligible for additional Aid and Attendance benefits to help pay for daily care.

If your spouse or immediate family member has passed away from a service-related illness, such as mesothelioma, you may qualify for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC. Payments are tax-free and depend on the relationship to the deceased person.

Eligibility for VA Asbestos Disability Benefits

Disability compensation is available to all veterans with service-connected disabilities. These include conditions related to asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and cancers of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, and larynx

The Veterans Pension program is available to qualifying veterans who served during select wartime periods, have income and assets within set limits, and received a discharge that was not dishonorable. The person must also meet one of the following criteria:

You are age 65 or older.
You are permanently and totally disabled.
You receive Social Security Disability benefits.
You are a resident of a skilled nursing facility.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC, is available to qualifying spouses, children, and parents. Family members of deceased or retired veterans may be eligible for health care coverage through several programs.

Legal Options for Veterans With Mesothelioma: Lawsuits, Trust Funds, and Wrongful Death Claims

Service members generally cannot sue the federal government for injuries sustained during active duty. However, many veterans were exposed to asbestos products manufactured or supplied by private companies, and those companies may be held legally responsible.

Veterans and their families may pursue compensation through:

Mesothelioma Lawsuit: Filed against private manufacturers or suppliers that provided asbestos-containing materials used in military ships, bases, vehicles, or equipment.
Asbestos Trust Funds: Bankrupt companies responsible for asbestos exposure have established trusts to compensate victims, including veterans exposed during service.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Filed by surviving family members when a loved one passes away from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness.

If your illness is connected to military service, you deserve clear answers and experienced guidance. The attorneys at Oslund Udo Little are here to evaluate your case, explain your options, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Military Branches Most Affected by Asbestos

Although all branches of the military used asbestos, the risk of exposure often depended on a service member’s branch, duties, and duty station. Certain branches and occupational roles faced especially high exposure due to shipyard work, aircraft maintenance, vehicle repair, and base construction.

Below, we outline how different branches of the U.S. military were affected and where service members were most likely to encounter asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos Exposure in The US Navy

With miles of Pacific Ocean access, the Oregon and Washington coastlines have provided valuable locations for the U.S. Navy for over a century and a half. Unfortunately, because the Navy heavily used asbestos in shipyards throughout most of the 20th century, service members in these locations had a high risk of exposure.
Asbestos exposure in the Navy is common due to the material’s ability to withstand heat, salt corrosion, and extreme force. Its use was pervasive in shipbuilding, insulation projects, and engine rooms.

Washington shipyards, including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, are known sources of asbestos exposure. Our attorneys continue to fight for those exposed, including a former painter’s helper on the USS Ranger at Puget Sound. The veteran received $5.6 million following his mesothelioma diagnosis at 58.

Asbestos Exposure Risks in the U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps

Asbestos exposure is also common in veterans of other military branches. The risk of shipyard exposure was as significant for Coast Guard and Marine Corps members as it was for Navy veterans.

Marine Corps and Air Force veterans were also exposed in the buildings they occupied and the aircraft they built, maintained, and flew. Mechanics, machinists, gunner’s mates, and boiler tenders are among the most at risk.

How Army Soldiers and Active Duty Personnel Were Exposed to Asbestos

For decades, the Army used asbestos to construct and maintain vehicles, barracks, and other buildings where soldiers lived and worked. Those responsible for building demolition and maintenance may have been regularly exposed.

Active-duty Army personnel were also exposed in combat zones and at overseas bases where asbestos-containing materials were used in temporary structures, vehicle repair facilities, and infrastructure projects. Soldiers working in construction, engineering, mechanics, and maintenance roles faced especially elevated risk.

The PNW Asbestos Map: High-Risk Locations for WA and OR Veterans

Given the many military bases in the Pacific Northwest, it is not surprising that many men and women who served here throughout most of the 20th century were exposed to asbestos. Several sites already have a history of veterans reporting illness.

High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Sites for Veterans in Washington

The Puget Sound shipyard has received significant attention for its high incidence of mesothelioma among veterans.

Our Washington mesothelioma attorneys have represented several victims and their families, including a woman whose husband worked as a pipefitter at the shipyard. He received a mesothelioma diagnosis just one month after retiring in his mid-50s, and his wife lost the chance at enjoying retirement with the man she loved. We recovered significant settlements on her behalf, and she went on to champion the rights of mesothelioma victims.

Sadly, Puget Sound is only one example. Veterans of the state’s seven other military bases are also at risk.

Shipyard Locations

Navy and Coast Guard veterans may have been exposed at Lockheed and Todd Shipyards, where workers built and maintained vessels for the Navy, the Coast Guard, and private industry. Asbestos was present in many components of these vessels, including insulation, corrugated sheeting, hot water systems, and safety equipment.

Army and Air Force Exposure

Construction and maintenance also took place at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which was formed by combining Fort Lewis, an Army base, and McChord Air Force Base. A recent audit concluded that many homes on the Joint Base have not undergone sufficient asbestos mitigation.

High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Sites for Veterans in Oregon

Veterans who served at Oregon’s naval shipyards face the same risks as those in Oregon. Swan Island Shipyard used asbestos heavily from World War II through the 1980s and possibly beyond.

Swan Island’s operating company, the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, produced ships that transported crude oil to fuel combat equipment. Asbestos spread readily through work areas, and despite knowledge of the material’s hazards, there is no evidence that the shipbuilding company provided any education or protection to its workers.

Oregon is also home to multiple shipyards that used asbestos extensively throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, like the one in Puget Sound. Dillingham Shipyard, Gunderson Shipyard, and Kaiser Ship Repair in Portland all followed similar practices, as did the Astoria Naval Shipyard.

Our Oregon asbestos exposure lawyers are dedicated to holding responsible parties accountable and helping victims access the resources they need. We’re here to help you if you or a loved one worked at any of these sites.

How Oslund Udo Little Can Help Military Victims of Asbestos Exposure

Oslund Udo Little narrowly focuses on asbestos and mesothelioma litigation. Since 1995, we have represented veterans and families across Washington and Oregon facing the life-changing impact of asbestos-related disease. As a small, highly specialized firm, we provide personalized, client-first representation, with each client working closely with a dedicated team that understands the human toll of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

We handle every stage of the legal process, from investigating military exposure history and identifying responsible manufacturers to coordinating medical experts and pursuing compensation through lawsuits and asbestos trust funds. We combine deep technical knowledge with zealous courtroom advocacy and genuine compassion for the families we serve.

Proven Case Results: Over $1 Billion Recovered for Our Clients

Oslund Udo Little has a proven track record of securing some of the highest settlements and largest verdicts in Washington and Oregon, holding corporations accountable while guiding veterans and their families through every step of the legal process.

$11.2 million settlement: A 75-year-old laborer developed mesothelioma after exposure at a Tacoma shipyard.  Oslund Udo Little filed claims against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing insulation used during the dismantling of former Navy ships at the Port Industrial Yard of Tacoma.
$10 million jury verdict: A 79-year-old man developed mesothelioma from World War II-era secondary asbestos exposure.  Oslund Udo Little pursued litigation against the companies responsible for the asbestos products involved and presented the case to a jury.
$8.3 million settlement: A Navy electrician developed mesothelioma after exposure at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  Oslund Udo Little filed claims against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials used aboard naval vessels and at the Bremerton shipyard.
$2.8 million settlement: A Navy boiler operator developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos-containing gaskets and insulation. Oslund Udo Little brought claims against the companies that supplied those asbestos products during his service at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Our Award-Winning Veterans Mesothelioma Attorneys

Having represented veterans for many years, we understand the difficulty of knowing that the country you served caused you harm. We empathize with your situation and are here to help you move forward.

Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund

Firm partner Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund focuses on victims exposed to “take-home” asbestos fibers on parents’ and spouses’ work clothes. She has secured many multimillion-dollar settlements, including $3.5 million for a former Navy machinist.

Chandler Udo

Partner Chadler Udo has tried asbestos cases in state and federal courts. His results include $1.1 million for a victim exposed to asbestos in Washington shipyards.

Brendan Little

Partner Brendan Little has spent his career fighting for vulnerable workers and consumers. He has represented mesothelioma victims on both coasts.

Erica Bergmann

Partner Erica Bergmann has participated in multiple mesothelioma cases that resulted in settlements exceeding $10 million. Her past clients include the grateful family of a Navy veteran who passed away from mesothelioma.

Contact Our Asbestos Exposure Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness as a result of your military service, you deserve experienced legal guidance and a team that understands what is at stake for you and your family.

Consultations are always free, and you do not pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call 206-957-9510 in Washington or 503-447-6230 in Oregon, or contact us online to speak directly with a member of our team.

Military and Veteran Asbestos Exposure FAQs

How Do I Prove Asbestos Exposure While Serving In The Army?

You can use service records, duty assignments, base history, ship logs, witness statements, and expert testimony to establish exposure. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help investigate and document your claim.

Can I Sue for Asbestos Exposure Before Becoming Sick?

Generally, you must have a diagnosed asbestos-related illness to file a lawsuit. Courts typically require evidence of an actual injury, such as mesothelioma or another medically confirmed asbestos-related disease, before a claim can move forward.

Can Navy Veterans Get Disability for Mesothelioma?

Yes. Veterans diagnosed with service-connected mesothelioma may qualify for VA disability benefits if their exposure occurred during military service.

How Do I File A VA Claim for Asbestos Exposure?

You must submit medical evidence of your diagnosis and documentation connecting your condition to military service. Many veterans work with legal counsel to strengthen their claims.

Will I Be Suing the Military or Government for My Exposure?

No. Service members cannot sue the federal government for injuries incurred in the line of duty. However, you may be eligible to file claims against private manufacturers or suppliers of asbestos-containing products.

How long do I have to file a veteran's mesothelioma claim?

Most mesothelioma lawsuits are personal injury or wrongful death claims and must follow the relevant statute of limitations. In Oregon, the statute of limitations is two years for injury and three years for wrongful death. Washington’s statute is three years for both types of cases. The clock typically starts running for mesothelioma patients when they receive their diagnosis.

How much compensation can a veteran with mesothelioma receive?

Each case is different. Damages depend on the case circumstances and your current and anticipated losses. A skilled attorney can help you value your case.