Mesothelioma & Veterans

Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Home » Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Treatment, and Legal Options » Veterans and Mesothelioma

Veterans exposed to asbestos during active-duty military service and who developed mesothelioma may be entitled to financial compensation. Since 1995, Bergman Oslund Udo Little has specialized in asbestos exposure and mesothelioma lawsuits. The firm has deep experience counseling veterans about their rights and pursuing the various benefits available to them.

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Veterans and Mesothelioma: Understanding the Connection
Military Branches Most Affected by Asbestos
Washington and Oregon Veterans: Local Exposure Hotspots
VA Benefits and Legal Compensation for Veterans With Mesothelioma
How Bergman Oslund Udo Little Helps Veterans in WA & OR
Common Questions About Veterans and Mesothelioma
Talk to a Mesothelioma Lawyer for Veterans in Washington or Oregon

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.

U.S. military veterans have risked their lives to protect the safety and welfare of Americans. While they knew they were making sacrifices and taking risks, one risk they likely didn’t anticipate was exposure to asbestos, a mineral that causes life-altering illnesses such as mesothelioma. Asbstsos

Veterans exposed to asbestos during active-duty military service and who developed mesothelioma may be entitled to financial compensation. Bergman Oslund Udo Little fights for justice on behalf of affected veterans and their families.

Veterans and Mesothelioma: Understanding the Connection

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can develop from asbestos exposure, 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, and shipyards.

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

Exposure occurs when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, causing the mineral’s tiny fibers to become airborne. Those nearby can easily ingest or inhale those fibers, especially if they lack protective gear.

Symptoms of asbestos-related illness may not appear until decades later. The latency period may be as long as 60 years, meaning veterans who served many decades ago may just be developing symptoms today.

If you or a family member has a mesothelioma or lung cancer diagnosis and may have been exposed to mesothelioma, help is available.

Military Branches Most Affected by Asbestos

The U.S. military used asbestos for many years. Its durability and heat-resistant properties made it a valuable component in military vehicles, vessels, equipment, and buildings across branches.

Navy Veterans

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.

Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard

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.

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.

Also, because asbestos was in use globally, those in combat zones and base operations may have inhaled significant quantities of asbestos fibers.

Washington and Oregon Veterans: Local Exposure Hotspots

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 Exposure Sites for Veterans in Washington

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

Our 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

Vessel 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 involving the Joint Base concluded that on-base homes have not undergone sufficient asbestos mitigation.

High-Risk 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 necessary resources. We’re here to help you if you or a loved one worked at any of these sites.

VA Benefits and Legal Compensation for Veterans With Mesothelioma

Veterans have exclusive options for mesothelioma compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs, in addition to legal options against liable third parties.

Types of VA Benefits Available

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

Some affected veterans may also qualify for a pension, which is supplemental income for select veterans with wartime service. Recipients with significant disabilities may be eligible for additional Aid and Attendance benefits, which help to fund 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.

Who Qualifies for VA Asbestos Compensation?

Disability compensation is available to all veterans with service-connected disabilities. These include conditions related to asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and cancers of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, and larynx. The VA presumes an automatic service connection for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses for veterans who meet certain service requirements.

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 also be able to receive health coverage from one of several programs.

Mesothelioma Trust Funds and Lawsuits

Most veterans with service-connected asbestos exposure are not eligible to sue the government, but other parties may be liable. For example, the military often contracts with civilian suppliers that provide building supplies or protective equipment. Many companies provided the military with asbestos-containing materials, even after learning of the dangers.

What Are Trust Funds?

Many companies responsible for asbestos exposure have filed for bankruptcy in the face of mounting liability. If your asbestos exposure is traceable to a company that has filed for bankruptcy protection, you may be able to receive compensation from an asbestos trust fund. Courts required these bankrupt companies to establish these trusts to compensate mesothelioma victims.

If your service-connected exposure involved one or more private suppliers, asbestos trust funds for veterans may provide compensation.

Can Veterans File Lawsuits?

Under a rule known as the Feres doctrine, service members may not sue the government for injuries sustained during their service. However, if a third-party manufacturer was responsible for your or a loved one’s exposure, you may be able to sue that company.

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit allows you to pursue compensation for the losses associated with your asbestos-related illness while holding that private organization accountable.
If your family member has died from mesothelioma, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against those responsible, other than the government. These claims can provide compensation for end-of-life costs and losses related to the death, including lost income and loss of companionship.

How Bergman Oslund Udo Little Helps Veterans in WA & OR

Our skilled mesothelioma attorneys have been working with victims of asbestos exposure since 1995. We focus exclusively on the Pacific Northwest and have an in-depth knowledge of asbestos exposure sites in Washington and Oregon.

We have secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, including multiple seven- and eight-figure awards for veterans with mesothelioma. Our attorneys understand the unique needs of former servicemembers, and we are proud to fight for justice on their behalf.

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.

Ruby Aliment

Senior Associate Ruby Aliment is an injury and wrongful death lawyer with extensive experience representing victims of asbestos exposure. Her recoveries include a $11 million settlement on behalf of a 74-year-old boilermaker with mesothelioma.

Erica Bergmann

Senior Associate 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.

Myles Crandall

Associate Attorney Myles Crandall is a former public defender passionate about helping clients and their families. He prioritizes earning clients’ trust so he can learn their stories and fight for the best results possible.

Meg Price

Associate Attorney Meg Price fights for individuals with mesothelioma diagnoses. She is driven to fight against large organizations on behalf of vulnerable individuals.

We Get Results for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos

Our skilled attorneys are proud to have secured large settlements for veterans with mesothelioma and related illnesses. Selected case results include:

$8.3 million for a Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 79: Our client was exposed to asbestos during his service at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
$5.6 million for a client diagnosed at age 58: Our client was a veteran who worked onboard the USS Ranger at the Puget Sound shipyard from 1975 to 1976.
$2.8 million for a Navy veteran diagnosed at 63: He was exposed to asbestos while working with gaskets, packing, and insulation as a boiler operator, serving from 1976 to 1977 at the Puget Sound shipyard.

We are proud to have made a difference in the lives of these veterans.

Common Questions About Veterans and Mesothelioma

Will I be suing the military or the government?

Veterans with mesothelioma and related illnesses cannot sue the military or government for asbestos exposure. The most common way to get compensation from the government is to file a VA claim for a service-connected disease. Veterans sickened by asbestos exposure might also be eligible to pursue compensation from a liable third party, such as a parts supplier or manufacturer, through a mesothelioma lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim.

Can Washington & Oregon veterans get VA benefits for mesothelioma?

The VA allows veterans across the U.S. to claim benefits for mesothelioma resulting from a service-connected asbestos exposure. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of asbestos exposure sites in the Pacific Northwest, including military bases, and have helped many veterans prepare successful claims.

What is the process for veterans to claim asbestos exposure compensation?

To file a mesothelioma claim, a veteran must submit evidence of their condition and related asbestos exposure. Our experienced attorneys can prepare and file a claim on your behalf, whether you are the patient or someone whose loved one passed away from asbestos-related illness.

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.

What if I haven't been diagnosed yet?

You must have suffered measurable harm from the exposure to file a lawsuit. You must wait until you have a diagnosis to submit a claim. In the meantime, if you suspect you’ve been exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor immediately and have them carefully track your health. In addition, keeping all your medical records is important, as these can strengthen your case once you are eligible.

Talk to a Mesothelioma Lawyer for Veterans in Washington or Oregon

If you developed an asbestos-related illness from your time in the military, you deserve justice. Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s experienced mesothelioma attorneys draw on extensive knowledge of Oregon and Washington law and asbestos sites to represent you with skill, knowledge, and empathy.

Call 206-957-9510 in Washington or 503-447-5230 in Oregon or contact us online to speak with an attorney today.