The Coast Guard, Asbestos Exposure, and Mesothelioma

The U.S. Coast Guard has a long history of asbestos use on its vessels. Asbestos on ships and in equipment exposed countless Coast Guard veterans who are now at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses. Coast Guard veterans with mesothelioma are eligible for healthcare and other benefits.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Why Are Coast Guard Veterans at Risk for Mesothelioma?

Out of approximately 3,000 new cases in the U.S. every year, 30% of mesothelioma diagnoses are in veterans. All branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, used asbestos extensively and put service members at risk of exposure and later illness.

Like the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard operated ships and boats built with large amounts of asbestos in many components. Asbestos was used to insulate and protect against heat and friction in gaskets, insulation, steam pipes, boilers, and many other components.

Even protective clothing worn by damage control parties to fight shipboard fires had asbestos fibers woven into their material. This was done to protect ships and crews from fires, especially at sea. Even the bases and shore installations used by the Coast Guard contained asbestos.

Asbestos use in the Coast Guard put veterans at risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other illnesses.

Which Veterans Are Most at Risk for Mesothelioma?

All Coast Guard veterans are at risk, but some were more likely to experience ongoing exposure than others:

• Shipyard and ship insulators
• Ship inspectors
• Boiler room workers
• Engine room workers
• Vessel renovators
• Construction workers
• Demolition workers

What Benefits Are Available to Coast Guard Veterans With Mesothelioma?

If you have mesothelioma or another asbestos illness related to your time serving in the Coast Guard, you could be eligible for one or more types of benefits and compensation.

VA Compensation for Coast Guard Veterans

The Coast Guard is part of the U.S. Armed Forces, so veterans are entitled to benefits offered by the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA). The VA provides disability compensation to qualifying veterans.

Monthly disability compensation varies depending on your degree of disability. The VA assigns a 100% disability rating to mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. Veterans with these illnesses and the required documentation are entitled to full disability payments.

The VA also offers special disability compensation to some veterans. If you have mesothelioma and need care in your home, you could qualify for this additional benefit.

Specialized Healthcare for Veterans

Veterans can receive medical care at VA medical centers across the U.S. Because mesothelioma rates are so high in veterans, several VA facilities offer specialist mesothelioma care and treatment for other asbestos illnesses.

Some VA medical centers with access to mesothelioma specialists are in Houston, Boston, Los Angeles, and Miami. These facilties connect with local hospitals, giving veterans access to even more specialists.

Benefits for Dependents and Family Members

Monthly disability compensation for veterans with mesothelioma includes additional payment for spouses, dependent children, and, in some cases, parents.

Families can also apply for dependency and indemnity compensation, payments to certain family members after the death of a veteran. Funeral benefits are also available.

Can Veterans Sue the Coast Guard for Asbestos Exposure?

Veterans cannot sue the military or federal government for asbestos exposure during service. The VA offers benefits that compensate injured and ill veterans for service-related harm.

Other Options for Compensation – Lawsuits and Asbestos Trusts

Although veterans cannot sue the military, they can sue asbestos companies for compensation. Many companies supplied the Coast Guard and other branches of the military with asbestos materials. Veterans can hold them accountable in one of two ways:

• Mesothelioma lawsuit. If the asbestos companies involved are still in business, you can sue them for damages. Most mesothelioma lawsuits end in settlements for the victim.
• Asbestos trust fund claim. If the companies went bankrupt, you could be eligible for an asbestos trust fund claim. Bankrupt companies were required to set up these trusts to compensate future claimants with asbestos illnesses.

Talk to an experienced asbestos or mesothelioma lawyer to take these steps. Asbestos cases and claims can be very complicated. The right law firm will have the resources available to gather evidence, prove your case, and get you a settlement.

Asbestos in Coast Guard Vessels

The U.S. Navy is larger and often gets more attention for past asbestos use, but the Coast Guard also used asbestos in all its major vessels throughout much of the 20th Century.

Many high-endurance cutters launched between 1939 and 1980 contained substantial amounts of ACMs, and many veterans were exposed to asbestos on them.

Asbestos in Coast Guard Stations and Buildings

Although the Coast Guard is smaller than the Navy, it has a nationwide network of bases, air stations, headquarters, repair facilities, and administration buildings to support its sea and air assets. Some of these facilities are relatively new and were built with materials that don’t contain asbestos.

However, many Coast Guard shore installations date from as far back as the 1800s. Even those Coast Guard buildings renovated between 1915 and 1980 include asbestos materials.

Asbestos-based products, including flooring material, roof tiles, insul, and even wiring, were used in berthing spaces, repair shops, barracks, dependent housing, and schools.

Under most conditions, asbestos is harmless if it’s left undisturbed. However, activities such as repairs or renovations stir up “friable” asbestos fibers and release them into the environment.

Coast Guard regulations now state that “(u)nprotected personnel shall not be exposed to airborne asbestos fiber concentrations greater than 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter [0.1 f/cc) averaged over an eight-hour day.” Health experts have determined that exposures that exceed these levels pose serious health risks.

The Coast Guard also prohibits using ACMs even though there are no satisfactory substitutes. This requirement applies to shipboard use, shore installations, and aircraft.

Examples of United States Coast Guard Locations Associated with Asbestos Use:

• Mt. Edgecumb Coast Guard barracks, Sitka, Alaska
• U.S. Coast Guard, Alameda, California
• U.S. Coast Guard, 12th District, San Francisco, California
• U.S. Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland
• U.S. Coast Guard ET Shop/ CGES Warehouse Building # 105, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• U.S. Coast Guard, Mess Hall, Building 39, Alameda, California
• U.S. Coast Guard, Mess Hall, Building 9, Benicia, California
• U.S. Coast Guard, Pier 16, Long Beach, California
• U.S. Coast Guard, Terminal Island, California
• U.S. Coast Guard, Sebago Lake, Maine
• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Borinquen, Puerto Rico
• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco, California
• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, St. Petersburg, Florida
• U.S. Coast Guard Navigation School, Groton, Connecticut
• U.S. Coast Guard, Gulfport, Mississippi
• U.S. Coast Guard, Loran-A Radar Station: Ocean Cape, Spruce Cape, and  Biorka, Alaska
• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, New York, New York
• U.S. Coast Guard Station, Tybee Island, Georgia
• U.S. Coast Guard Station, Islamorada, Florida
• U.S. Coast Guard Station, Panama City, Florida
• U.S. Coast Guard Station, Yankeetown, Florida

Are Coast Guard Service Members Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

Unfortunately, the dangers of asbestos have not disappeared. Asbestos was used so heavily that it has been impossible to abate or replace it all, especially in buildings.

Many military installations, including Coast Guard bases, still have asbestos in buildings, barracks, and housing. The asbestos should be contained, but if disturbed could cause exposure.

The Coast Guard’s Occupational Medical Surveillance & Evaluation Program provides Coast Guardsmen with monitoring for exposure to asbestos and other toxic chemicals. Current service members and veterans can undergo medical screenings through this program to catch illnesses earlier.

Legal Help and Additional Information

Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. Keep in mind that if you have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.