Mesothelioma in Marine veterans is sadly often very severe, with Navy veterans in high-exposure roles being 6.47 times more likely to die from mesothelioma than the general U.S. population. This is due to the ubiquity of asbestos on ships and barracks where Marines and Navy veterans served.
Decades later, Marine vets are now feeling the effects of mesothelioma’s latency. The impact on themselves and their families can be extreme.
Thankfully, mesothelioma is now recognized as a VA disability, giving mesothelioma Marines the chance to receive VA benefits. They also have the right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against the at-fault manufacturer (and not the military), without it affecting their VA benefits income.
In this guide, you’ll learn how and where Marines and their families were exposed to asbestos, and what rights for compensation diagnosed veterans now have:
How Marines Were Continually Exposed to Asbestos
Military veterans account for 30% of all mesothelioma diagnoses, despite being just 8% of the U.S. population.
During the 1930s to 1980s, Marines, in particular, were exposed to asbestos every day because it was extensively used in the cement pipes, ceiling tiles, wall insulation, and roofing used to construct the barracks in which they lived. It was also built into the barracks’ foundations, as well as those of other base structures. Even the heating systems in buildings on a typical Marine base were lined with asbestos insulation.
Marine Corps veterans were regularly assigned to Navy ships that contained asbestos in brakes, gaskets, seals, fittings, and the insulation that lined the compartments.
Even after asbestos use was banned, the exposure didn’t end. Asbestos removal from barracks, base operations facilities, and machine shops was performed haphazardly, allowing asbestos particles to become airborne and be easily inhaled. In many instances, asbestos removal was performed by enlisted crews, exposing them to even greater health risks.
Given that the total amount of asbestos someone breathes over time predicts disease risk, heavy exposure for Marines (in areas like ship engine rooms and maintenance bays) is believed to double the odds of mesothelioma compared to light exposure, roughly.
Military Base Housing That Exposed Marines and Their Families to Asbestos:
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is known to have had asbestos in its insulation, HVAC systems, and flooring until the 1980s. There was also badly contaminated water. Marines and their families who lived in barracks and housing have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, including in areas such as Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace.
Camp Pendleton, California
Camp Pendleton in California also featured asbestos in buildings and on sites, with contamination from dumping in the years before the 1980s. Both Marine housing and operations were affected, particularly the Mountain Wire I housing units, where older units were reportedly the worst. Even today, the EPA is still cleaning up the mess.
Marine Corps Base Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island’s barracks, classrooms, boiler systems, and administrative buildings were built before 1980, when asbestos use was at its peak. In 2002, a GAO report raised concerns about exposure risk, which were confirmed in a 2007 report.
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina
Cherry Point Air Station facilities were the home to pre-1980s barracks that contained asbestos, exposing Marines stationed on site.
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona
MCAS Yuma in Arizona was designated an EPA Superfund site in the 1990s due to the severity of asbestos contamination in the soil and buildings on site. It took 11 years for the cleanup to be completed, indicating the high levels present before.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego
MCAS Miramar had barracks, hangars, and construction materials containing asbestos, particularly at the Former Camp Elliot Military Training Site, the Sycamore Canyon Atlas Missile Facility, and the Old Camp Elliott Heating Plant.
How The Navy’s Use of Asbestos for Insulation Impacted Those Who Served in the Marine Corps
It’s well documented that the Navy relied extensively on asbestos in ship construction. It was used in boiler and engine rooms and to create a heat shield between the living and working areas aboard ship. It was also woven into the ropes found everywhere on Navy vessels.
The Navy’s use of asbestos not only created health risks for its own personnel but also impacted the health of those who served in the Marine Corps. Marine units were often assigned to Navy ships, where they worked alongside Navy crews, using Navy aircraft carriers as bases for fighter-bombers on ship-to-shore missions. The Marines assigned to these operations would live aboard the ship until the mission had been completed. This exposed them to the same level of asbestos as their Navy counterparts.
Engine Rooms
Engine rooms are reported to have asbestos levels three times higher than other ship areas, with it used on engines, pipes, and bulkheads for heat protection. Marines working in these areas faced constant fiber release, especially given the poor ventilation in the rooms.
Boiler Rooms
Chrysotile and amphibole asbestos were used extensively in boilers due to their heat-resistant and fireproof qualities, putting Marines serving as tenders at risk.
Sleeping Quarters and Mess Halls
Asbestos was also found in living areas, including sleeping quarters, mess halls, and galleys. There, ceiling tiles, flooring, and pipe insulation were affected by daily wear, releasing fibers into the air.
Navigation Rooms
Navigational rooms were often confined spaces, packed with cables, bulkheads, and ceiling materials.
Maintenance Work
Shipyard maintenance workers faced some of the highest exposures of the entire military, with 4.5 million people exposed during WWII shipbuilding alone. Exposure was ongoing throughout the 1940s to 1980s, due to the handling of insulation, gaskets, and seals.
Common Marine Corps Vehicles and Aircraft Asbestos Exposure
Marine Corps vehicles contained asbestos in brake pads, clutches, gaskets, seals, and heat shields. Mechanics were most exposed, handling components daily with often poor ventilation and no PPE.
Vehicles Containing Asbestos
- M60 Patton tank (introduced in 1959)
- Trucks and jeeps
- Amphibious assault vehicles
- Transport vehicles
Aircraft Containing Asbestos
- CH-46 Sea Knight
- CH-53 Sea Stallion
- AV-8 Harrier
- F-4 Phantom II
- A-4 Skyhawk
- A-6 Intruder
Mesothelioma’s Latency Period Explained
Mesothelioma is the most common cancer linked to Marine Corps asbestos exposure, severely affecting the lungs, abdomen, and heart. But asbestos can also cause lung scarring and breathing difficulties, as well as pleural plaques and other respiratory issues.
Mesothelioma diagnoses have shot up in the past 20 years, as the disease has a long latency (20 to 50 years) between exposure and symptoms. For that reason, Vietnam veterans in particular should watch for symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss.
Can Marine Families Get Mesothelioma?
Thousands of active-duty families were housed in U.S. Marine bases across the country, and may have faced direct exposure themselves. In fact, a 2020 DoD report revealed that military housing may still contain asbestos.
Families have also been exposed when Marines returned home with fibers on their uniforms. These relatives, like the Marines, may have developed mesothelioma decades later.
What VA Benefits Are Available to Marine Corps Veterans with Mesothelioma?
Marines who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma are likely to qualify for a VA disability rating of 100%. As of 2026, this can bring in around $4,000 in monthly payments, the lowest VA health care premiums, free or low-cost specialized care in VA facilities, and other benefits to help their family.
To file a claim, mesothelioma veterans must complete VA Form 21-526EZ and provide the required documentation, including a DD-214, medical records, and a medical nexus letter.
Proving the diagnosis and evidence of where and when you served should ensure approval after around 4 to 6 months, which can help you and your family gain the compensation you deserve.
Legal Compensation Beyond VA Benefits for Mesothelioma Marines
Filing Marines with Mesothelioma Lawsuits Against Manufacturers
Marines with mesothelioma also have the right to file a lawsuit against manufacturers who used asbestos in materials and equipment used in the military.
The lawsuit is not against the military, but against companies like Johns-Manville and Owens-Illinois that knew of asbestos’s risks but sold it to the military.
Veterans have the right to dual recovery, meaning lawsuits and VA benefits do not interfere with one another. This gives victims a great chance to recover a significant lump sum that can help them and their families, given the severity of the disease.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
If a negligent company has since gone bankrupt, all is not lost. In fact, billions of dollars are available specifically for mesothelioma victims thanks to asbestos trust funds. Marines exposed to asbestos may be able to file multiple trust fund claims, too.
Wrongful Death Claims
Surviving family members of Marines who have passed away with mesothelioma can also file wrongful death claims against these companies to recover related damages.
What Compensation May Cover
Compensation from lawsuits and trust fund claims may include:
- Medical expenses beyond VA coverage
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship (wrongful death)
- Funeral expenses
Gain Compensation for Your Marine Asbestos Exposure Case
As a veteran, if you were exposed to asbestos products that the Marine Corps used, you may be able to pursue compensation for what you’ve been through.
At Shrader & Associates, we specialize in providing nationwide support to veterans with mesothelioma in pursuing full and fair compensation from the asbestos manufacturers who were aware of the dangers of their products. We can help recover documents that prove your exposure in the Marines before making claims on a contingency-fee (no upfront cost) basis.
We welcome you to a free consultation today by calling our asbestos exposure attorneys at 866-262-8170 or contacting us online here to get started.
FAQs on Mesothelioma Marines
Do Marine Corps veterans have a higher risk of mesothelioma than civilians?
Yes, Marine veterans have a heightened risk due to their routine contact with asbestos on Navy ships, barracks, aircraft, and vehicles.
What Marine Corps jobs had the highest asbestos exposure?
Marine Corps mechanics are believed to be the most exposed, but combat engineers, shipboard roles, and construction workers almost certainly were in high-exposure environments.
Can Marine Corps veterans get both VA benefits and lawsuit compensation?
Yes. Dual recovery is allowed simultaneously. Neither affects the other.
Can family members of Marines develop mesothelioma?
Yes. It’s not contagious, but secondary asbestos exposure may have occurred when Marines brought home asbestos fibers on their uniforms and their bodies. We welcome you to contact our mesothelioma claims lawyers for family members.