Why Are U.S. Army Veterans at Risk of Mesothelioma?
U.S. Army veterans who served before the early 1980s could develop mesothelioma and other deadly illnesses due to asbestos exposure.
The U.S. Army heavily relied on asbestos-containing products due to their durability and fire-resistant properties before the risks were publicly understood.
Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now offers medical aid and financial payouts to help veterans with mesothelioma.
The Mesothelioma Hope team, consisting of U.S. veterans, Patient Advocates, and VA-accredited claims agents, can help you access or increase your VA benefit payouts and access additional compensation.
Download your Free Veterans Compensation Guide to learn how to get help for Army asbestos exposure.
How Did the U.S. Army Use Asbestos?
The U.S. Army used asbestos-based products in many different ways. In particular, U.S. Army bases were built with many asbestos-containing products. Army vehicles like trucks and jeeps used asbestos as well.
Army products that contained asbestos included:
- Brake pads
- Ceiling tiles
- Cement materials
- Fireproofing materials
- Flooring tiles
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Roofing materials
These products were used in a variety of ways by the U.S. Army, from making bases and buildings fireproof and well-insulated to helping military vehicle parts last longer.
Asbestos Use on U.S. Army Bases
There are almost 70 U.S. Army bases that are known to have used asbestos-containing products.
Army bases that used asbestos include:
- Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky
- Camp Blanding, Florida
- Camp San Luis Obispo, California
- Fort Benning, Georgia
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Fort Campbell, Tennessee/Kentucky border
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Fort Dix, New Jersey
- Fort Hood, Texas
- Fort Jackson, South Carolina
- Fort Lee, Virginia
- Fort Lewis, Washington
- Fort Knox, Kentucky
- Fort Monmouth, New Jersey
- Fort Shafter, Hawaii
- New Cumberland Army Depot, Pennsylvania
- Pueblo Chemical Depot, North Carolina
- Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois
Asbestos could be found throughout U.S. Army bases during this time. It was often used in insulation due to its heat-resistant properties.
Some buildings on older Army bases contain asbestos even today. Fort Campbell in Kentucky demolished several asbestos-containing buildings made during World War II in 2021.
The list above contains only a few of many Army bases that used asbestos. Don’t see your base listed? You may still have been exposed. Call (866) 608-8933 to learn if a U.S. Army base you served on used asbestos.
Army Jobs With High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Anyone exposed to asbestos can develop mesothelioma later in life. That said, U.S. Army personnel who directly worked with asbestos-containing materials had the highest risk of exposure.
The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers were the highest-risk group since they built structures using asbestos-based products.
Other high-risk Army occupations were:
- Aircraft mechanics
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Demolition and renovation specialists
- Drywallers
- Insulators
- Electricians
- Firefighters
- HVAC mechanics
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
Army personnel working on these jobs handled asbestos on a daily basis, meaning their exposure risks were much higher than those of general soldiers.
Modern Risks of Army Asbestos Exposure
Today, soldiers who serve (or have served) in Middle Eastern or Southeast Asian countries may also be at risk of asbestos exposure. These countries still use asbestos-containing materials when constructing their buildings and structures.
Damage to these buildings during combat may release asbestos fibers into the air, putting Army personnel serving in these countries at risk of mesothelioma later in life.
Asbestos Use in U.S. Army Vehicles
Army vehicle parts were made with asbestos to help them last longer and protect against elements like heat.
Asbestos-containing parts in Army vehicles include:
- Clutch facings
- Brake linings
- Gaskets
- Transmission parts
- Undercoating
- Valves and heat seals
If Army vehicles needed repairs, the risk of releasing asbestos particles into the air grew exponentially. Exposure to these airborne asbestos fibers increased the odds of developing mesothelioma.
Download your Free Veterans Compensation Guide to access VA benefits, increase your VA payouts, and get other forms of financial aid if you’re a U.S. Army veteran with mesothelioma.
VA Benefits for Army Veterans With Mesothelioma
Veterans of the U.S. Army who have developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure are entitled to VA benefits. This includes health care and compensation.
Key mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability compensation: U.S. military veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are eligible for monthly tax-free disability payments. Married veterans with mesothelioma typically receive over $4,000 every month as of 2025.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): A veteran who is already receiving disability compensation may collect this additional monthly payout if they have special needs (for example, a live-in caregiver).
- VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC): Surviving spouses and children of a veteran who died due to a military-related injury or illness (like mesothelioma) can receive this tax-free monthly VA DIC benefits.
- VA health care: Veterans with mesothelioma can get treatment from some of the best mesothelioma doctors in the world through the VA. Many VA health care services are low-cost or free.
- Other benefits: The VA benefits listed above are just a few that Army veterans with mesothelioma and their families may qualify for. Pension plans, reimbursement for burial costs, and other forms of financial compensation may be available.
Filing for Army Mesothelioma VA Benefits
Army veterans eligible for VA benefits can apply online (va.gov), in person at a VA regional office, or by mail.
Requirements to file include:
- Discharge Status: Veterans are not eligible if they were dishonorably discharged.
- Disability During Active Duty: A veteran’s injury or illness must be the result of something that occurred during active duty, such as exposure to asbestos that caused mesothelioma.
VA benefits applications should be completed as soon as a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed. The sooner a VA claim is filed, the sooner the veteran can get their monthly payouts and pursue low-cost medical treatments.
Our team can help you file for Army mesothelioma VA benefits right now or increase your VA payouts. Call (866) 608-8933 to get started.
Legal Compensation for Army Veterans With Mesothelioma
Besides receiving financial aid and medical care from the VA, U.S. Army veterans with mesothelioma are entitled to Legal compensation as well. By filing mesothelioma lawsuits or legal claims, veterans can receive millions of dollars on average.
Recent payouts for U.S. Army veterans with mesothelioma include:
- $4.3 million for a boilermaker
- $3.2 million for a maintenance worker
- $2.9 million for a pipefitter
- $3.9 million for a painter
Veterans can work with VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyers to receive military benefits and lawsuit compensation.
“We gave all that money to our kids, paid all their debts off, paid our house off and made our life a little easier because we had no financial worries.”
— Art Putt, U.S. Army and Air Force veteran with mesothelioma
Filing a lawsuit will not impact a veteran’s ability to file for VA benefits, and no legal action will be taken against the U.S. Army or government.
Help for U.S. Army Veterans With Mesothelioma
U.S. Army veterans never deserved to develop life-threatening illnesses like mesothelioma simply from serving their country. Sadly, far too many U.S. Army veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.
U.S. Army veterans need access to top-notch medical care and financial aid if they’re suffering from mesothelioma. And the good news is that both are available right now.
The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you or a loved one pursue VA benefits, medical treatment, and legal compensation. Learn about all the ways we can help you in our Free Veterans Compensation Guide.
Mesothelioma Army Veterans FAQs
Are U.S. Army veterans at risk of mesothelioma after asbestos exposure?
Yes. U.S. Army veterans can develop mesothelioma after asbestos exposure during their service, as asbestos is the only known cause of this cancer.
If Army veterans worked around or with asbestos-based products, they could inhale microscopic fibers into their bodies. After 10-50 years, asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other diseases.
For how long did the Army use asbestos products?
The U.S. Army used asbestos from the 1930s to the early 1980s. However, the risks of asbestos were largely not known for decades.
Makers of asbestos-based products hid the truth from military service members to keep making millions of dollars. In the process, they exposed countless Army members and civilians to the dangers of asbestos.
It was not until the 1980s that the U.S. Army and other military branches took proper steps to remove asbestos and limit its future use.
Does mesothelioma qualify for disability?
Yes, mesothelioma is considered a disability by the VA.
As a result, U.S. Army veterans with this cancer could be entitled to VA benefits like disability compensation, health care coverage, and more.
What is the VA rating for mesothelioma?
The VA rates mesothelioma as a 100% disability. Married veterans can receive nearly $4,000 monthly with this rating as of 2024.
In addition, veterans can file private claims against the makers of asbestos-based products. These claims often pay over $1 million, though each case differs.
Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to learn how much may be available in your case.
What benefits are available to U.S. Army veterans with mesothelioma?
U.S. Army veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can receive a wide range of VA benefits, including monthly compensation and free or inexpensive medical care.
Call (866) 608-8933 to learn about mesothelioma VA benefits that you or a loved one may qualify for.
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