Submarine Veterans and Asbestos: 6 High-Risk Compartments and 2026 VA Claim Guide

Executive Summary

Submarine veterans faced the most severe asbestos exposure in the entire U.S. military. Beginning in 1922, the Navy made asbestos a mandatory building material for every new submarine — not an incidental component but a specified requirement. Submariners lived and worked in sealed vessels with no access to fresh air during extended submerged operations, concentrating airborne asbestos fibers in the smallest interior volumes of any warship. A landmark 65-year mortality study of 114,000 atomic-era veterans found that high-risk Navy ratings — including submarine-specific specialties — carried a mesothelioma standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 6.47, nearly 6.5 times the general population baseline. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma qualify for 100% VA disability ($3,938.58/month in 2026), and can simultaneously pursue asbestos trust fund claims against the product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard their submarines.

What Are the Key Facts About Submarine Veterans and Asbestos Exposure?

1922: The U.S. Navy first specified asbestos as a required building material for new submarines — the earliest known mandatory asbestos specification in military history
6.47 SMR: Mesothelioma standardized mortality ratio for high-risk Navy ratings in the Boice et al. 65-year study of ~114,000 atomic veterans
2.15 SMR: Overall Navy mesothelioma SMR — more than double the general population, versus 0.45 for Army and 0.85 for Air Force
30%: Share of all U.S. mesothelioma diagnoses attributed to military veterans, despite representing only 7% of the population
6 submarine compartments with highest asbestos concentrations: engine rooms, torpedo rooms, nuclear reactor compartments, sonar spaces, berthing areas, and galley/mess spaces
STS (Sonar Technician — Submarine) is one of only 18 Navy ratings classified by the VA as "Highly Probable" for asbestos exposure
$3,938.58/month: 2026 VA disability rate for submarine veterans with 100% service-connected mesothelioma (no dependents)
$4,158.17/month: 2026 rate with a qualifying spouse
$1,699.36/month: 2026 DIC base rate for surviving spouses
1971: Navy began phasing out asbestos; Late 1973: Navy officially updated specifications to exclude new asbestos materials
Feres Doctrine exception: Submarine veterans cannot sue the government but CAN sue private manufacturers (Foster Wheeler, Owens Corning, Johns Manville, Garlock, Combustion Engineering)

6.47×

Mesothelioma mortality ratio for high-risk Navy ratings vs. general population (Boice et al., 2019)

1922

Year the U.S. Navy first mandated asbestos in new submarine construction specifications

30%

Share of all U.S. mesothelioma cases diagnosed in military veterans, despite being 7% of the population

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma after submarine service are entitled to significant benefits — but the filing process for VA disability claims and asbestos trust fund claims must be handled correctly to recover the full amount available. This guide explains the exposure science, the specific submarines and compartments involved, and the exact steps to file a claim.

Why Was Asbestos Exposure on Submarines More Severe Than Other Navy Vessels?

Three structural factors made submarine asbestos exposure categorically different from surface ship exposure, even within the Navy.

The 1922 Mandatory Specification

In 1922, the U.S. Navy issued specifications requiring asbestos as a building material for all new submarines. South African chrysotile asbestos was specified for gaskets, insulation, packing, and tape. Transvaal amosite — one of the most carcinogenic asbestos fiber types — was specified for lightweight thermal insulation. This was not an industry practice that found its way into naval procurement: it was an explicit government mandate. Every submarine built between 1922 and the early 1970s was constructed to include asbestos throughout its systems.

"In 1922, the U.S. Navy specified asbestos use in new submarines, designating South African chrysotile for gaskets, insulation, packing, and tape, and Transvaal amosite for lightweight insulation. This specification remained in effect for nearly five decades."

— PMC Review, Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, 2008

Extreme Confinement and Zero Ventilation Escape

Submarines had the smallest interior volumes of any vessel type in the naval fleet. When asbestos fibers were released — through routine maintenance, vibration, or aging insulation — those fibers concentrated in confined spaces from which there was no exit. On a surface ship, sailors could move topside during off-duty hours for fresh air. On a submerged submarine, that option did not exist. Submariners breathed the same sealed air for weeks at a time.

Routine maintenance activities generated the highest fiber concentrations. Chipping and scraping degraded pipe insulation, replacing asbestos gaskets on engine components, relining exhaust systems, and repairing insulation on torpedo tubes all disturbed settled fibers and released them into enclosed spaces. Unlike shore-based industrial workers who left their worksite after an 8-hour shift, submariners ate, slept, and worked within the same asbestos-contaminated environment continuously.

The Boice Study: SMR of 6.47 for High-Risk Ratings

The most comprehensive epidemiological data on Navy mesothelioma risk comes from a 2019 study by Boice et al., published in the International Journal of Radiation Biology. The study followed approximately 114,000 atomic-era veterans for 65 years. Key findings by branch:

Navy overall SMR for mesothelioma: 2.15 (95% CI: 1.80–2.56)
High-risk Navy ratings (boiler technicians, sonar technicians, hull maintenance): SMR 6.47
Army SMR: 0.45 — below the general population baseline
Air Force SMR: 0.85 — below the general population baseline
Marines SMR: 0.75 — below the general population baseline

The divergence is stark. Army and Air Force veterans had lower mesothelioma mortality than the general population. Navy veterans — especially those in engineering and systems specialties — had mortality rates two to six times higher. The explanation is asbestos in Navy vessels, and most acutely in submarines.

Which Submarine Classes and Compartments Had the Highest Asbestos Concentrations?

Submarine Classes With Documented Asbestos

Asbestos was present throughout every major submarine class built before the early 1970s. The principal affected classes include:

Gato-class and Balao-class submarines (WWII) — fleet submarines built by Electric Boat, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and other yards; asbestos insulation throughout engine rooms, torpedo rooms, and crew berthing
Tang-class (1951–1952) — post-WWII attack submarines with modernized propulsion still using asbestos insulation
USS Nautilus (SSN-571, 1954) — the world's first nuclear submarine, built by Electric Boat in Groton; asbestos insulation required for both thermal and radiation shielding in the reactor compartment
George Washington-class SSBN (1959–1964) — the first fleet ballistic missile submarines; asbestos present in propulsion, weapons, and reactor spaces
Los Angeles-class (SSN-688, commissioned 1976) — while commissioned after the Navy began phasing out asbestos, early-block boats may contain legacy materials installed during construction

Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut — the primary builder of U.S. nuclear submarines — is one of the most comprehensively documented sites of submarine asbestos exposure. Workers who built submarines at Electric Boat faced direct handling of raw asbestos materials. Sailors who received submarines fresh from Electric Boat moved into vessels whose insulation was still intact but disturbed by sea trials and operational activity.

The Six High-Exposure Compartments

Within any submarine, six compartments carried the highest asbestos fiber concentrations:

Engine rooms housed diesel or nuclear propulsion plants wrapped in asbestos pipe insulation, valve packing, and component gaskets. Engineering ratings — machinist's mates (MM), enginemen (EN), and electrician's mates (EM) — worked in these spaces continuously during underway periods.

Torpedo rooms combined asbestos-insulated tube equipment with weapon storage in the most forward compartment of the boat. Torpedoman's mates (TM) spent extended hours in this space during deployments.

Reactor compartments on nuclear submarines required the heaviest asbestos insulation of any space aboard. Both thermal protection and radiation shielding specifications mandated asbestos-based materials. Nuclear machinist's mates (MM) and reactor control technicians worked in or adjacent to this compartment.

Sonar spaces were heavily insulated compartments positioned below the waterline on most submarine classes. Sonar Technician (Submarine), designated STS, is specifically listed in the VA's Duty MOS Exposure Matrix as one of 18 Navy ratings classified "Highly Probable" for asbestos exposure. See WikiMesothelioma's Navy Occupational Ratings for the full VA matrix by rating.

Berthing spaces were located directly adjacent to engineering spaces on most submarine classes. Sailors who slept in forward and aft berthing areas were continuously exposed to fibers settling from nearby machinery insulation, even during off-duty hours.

Galley and mess areas occupied central hull positions with insulated overhead and bulkhead surfaces. Food service personnel had ongoing exposure independent of their official MOS designation.

How Did the Navy's Asbestos Phase-Out Affect Submarine Veterans?

The Navy's elimination of asbestos from submarine construction was gradual — and veterans who served during the transition period may have been exposed to both new asbestos installation and disturbed legacy materials simultaneously.

1971: The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations issued a letter directing the Navy to begin using alternative materials in ship and submarine insulation
Late 1973: The Navy officially updated its specifications to exclude asbestos from new construction
~1975: The Navy began replacing some existing asbestos aboard active vessels
Early 1980s: The Navy largely stopped installing new asbestos materials during new construction or major overhaul
Mid-1990s: The Navy stopped using asbestos materials entirely in procurement

Veterans who served from the 1940s through the 1970s were exposed to intact, installed asbestos throughout their service. Veterans who served during the 1970s and 1980s overhaul period faced a different but equally serious risk: the removal and replacement of legacy asbestos, which generates higher fiber concentrations than undisturbed material. Asbestos removal without proper encapsulation protocols — which were not yet standard in military environments — exposed sailors to the highest fiber counts of any activity.

"The Navy's asbestos phase-out created a particularly dangerous transition period. Veterans who served during submarine overhauls in the 1970s were exposed to maximum fiber concentrations as legacy insulation was disturbed, cut, and removed — often without the respiratory protection standards that would be required today."

— Larry Gates, Senior Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

What VA Benefits Are Available to Submarine Veterans With Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma qualifies for a 100% disability rating from the VA. For veterans with confirmed mesothelioma, the process is expedited under VA regulations because mesothelioma is a terminal illness. The Veterans Benefits guide at WikiMesothelioma details all available programs; the key compensation rates for 2026 are as follows.

2026 VA Disability Rates — 100% Rating

Dependent Status	Monthly Rate (2026)
Veteran alone (no dependents)	$3,938.58
Veteran with spouse	$4,158.17
Veteran with spouse and 1 child	$4,318.99
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance	+$201.41/month additional

These rates reflect the 2.8% COLA adjustment effective December 1, 2025.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

If a submarine veteran dies from mesothelioma, the surviving spouse qualifies for DIC. The 2026 base rate is $1,699.36 per month. Surviving spouses whose veteran was rated 100% disabled for 8 or more consecutive years before death receive an additional $360.85 per month. Aid and Attendance for surviving spouses adds $421.00 per month.

VA Healthcare and Hospice

Veterans with service-connected mesothelioma receive VA healthcare at no cost, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care. VA facilities with dedicated mesothelioma programs include the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (Philadelphia), the Moffitt Cancer Center Network, and the VA Boston Healthcare System. Priority scheduling is available for terminal diagnoses.

What Is the VA's Rating for Submarine Occupational Specialties?

The VA's Duty MOS/Rating Probability of Exposure Matrix classifies Navy ratings into four tiers: Highly Probable, Probable, Minimal, and Not Specified. Submarine-specific and submarine-relevant ratings receiving the highest classification include:

STS — Sonar Technician (Submarine): "Highly Probable" — one of only 18 Navy ratings to receive this designation. The VA presumes asbestos exposure occurred for STS veterans, reducing the documentation burden significantly.
FN — Fireman: "Highly Probable" — engineroom watchstanders on submarines had direct contact with asbestos-lagged piping and boilers
BT — Boiler Technician: "Highly Probable" — applies to conventionally powered submarines
MM — Machinist's Mate: "Probable" — nuclear submarine propulsion maintenance
EM — Electrician's Mate: "Probable" — electrical system maintenance throughout submarine
TM — Torpedoman's Mate: "Probable" — forward torpedo room work on all submarine classes

Veterans in "Highly Probable" ratings do not need to provide independent evidence of asbestos exposure to establish service connection — their rating itself constitutes presumptive evidence under VA regulations. Veterans in "Probable" and lower ratings need to submit additional documentation such as a buddy statement from a fellow crew member, work history records, or a physician causation declaration.

Can Submarine Veterans Sue Asbestos Manufacturers?

Yes — and this is a critical distinction that many submarine veterans and their families do not initially understand. The Feres Doctrine, a 1950 Supreme Court ruling, generally bars active-duty military personnel from suing the federal government for injuries sustained during service. This means submarine veterans cannot sue the Navy or the Department of Defense for decisions to install asbestos.

However, the Feres Doctrine does not extend to private manufacturers who made and sold the asbestos-containing products installed in Navy submarines. Those companies operated in commerce, were aware of asbestos's health hazards by the 1960s at the latest, and chose to continue selling their products without adequate warnings. Submarine veterans have successfully recovered against:

Foster Wheeler — boilers used on diesel-electric and steam-powered submarines
Owens Corning Fiberglas — pipe insulation installed throughout submarine hulls
Johns Manville — insulation, gaskets, and packing materials specified for submarines
Garlock Sealing Technologies — asbestos gaskets used in submarine engine and piping systems
Combustion Engineering — nuclear reactor insulation and steam system components on SSN submarines

Many of these companies have since declared bankruptcy and established asbestos compensation trust funds totaling more than $30 billion across the entire trust system. Filing a trust fund claim does not require litigation — it is an administrative process with established medical and exposure criteria. Veterans can file VA disability claims and trust fund claims simultaneously without either reducing the other.

For veterans with active mesothelioma, expedited civil litigation through a specialized mesothelioma attorney can result in trial verdicts or settlements within 12 to 18 months in many jurisdictions. Free case assessments are available to determine which manufacturers are applicable to a specific veteran's exposure history.

How Do Submarine Veterans Document Their Asbestos Claim?

Documentation for submarine asbestos claims follows a three-tier approach. Stronger documentation at each tier increases both VA disability compensation and civil claim recovery.

Tier 1 — Service Record Documentation

The DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) establishes rate/rating, dates of service, and character of discharge. Standard Form 180 requests provide military personnel records including duty station assignments, vessel assignments by hull number, and training records. These records establish which submarines a veteran served aboard and when — data that can then be cross-referenced against Navy historical records of asbestos installation by vessel class and hull number.

Tier 2 — Vessel Exposure Documentation

Navy historical records document asbestos-containing materials by vessel class, compartment, and contractor. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) maintains procurement records identifying which asbestos products were installed aboard specific submarines. Expert review of these records — conducted by specialized mesothelioma attorneys — can match a specific veteran's assignments to documented asbestos products, establishing which manufacturers' materials the veteran was exposed to. This is the foundation of civil litigation against product manufacturers.

Tier 3 — Medical Causation Documentation

A treating oncologist's declaration connecting the mesothelioma diagnosis to occupational asbestos exposure strengthens both the VA claim and any civil claim. The declaration should address: diagnosis type and histological confirmation; the veteran's service history and its relationship to asbestos exposure; the physician's medical causation opinion; and relevant clinical findings. For atypical mesothelioma presentations — peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, or tunica vaginalis mesothelioma — a physician declaration addressing the medical basis for causation is especially valuable because these presentations are less commonly seen in submarine exposure cases than pleural mesothelioma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were submarine veterans at higher asbestos risk than other Navy sailors?

Submarine veterans faced the most severe asbestos exposure in the U.S. military for three structural reasons. First, the U.S. Navy officially specified asbestos as a required building material for all new submarines starting in 1922 — making it mandatory, not incidental. Second, submarines had the smallest interior volumes of any vessel type, concentrating airborne fibers to levels that far exceeded surface ship conditions. Third, during submerged operations there was no escape: unlike surface sailors who could go topside for fresh air, submariners lived and worked in sealed, asbestos-insulated compartments 24 hours a day for weeks at a time. A landmark 65-year mortality study of approximately 114,000 atomic veterans found that high-risk Navy ratings — which include submarine-specific occupational specialties — had a mesothelioma standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 6.47, meaning they were nearly 6.5 times more likely to die from mesothelioma than the general population.

What submarine compartments had the highest asbestos concentrations?

Six submarine compartments carried particularly severe asbestos exposures. Engine rooms housed diesel engines and auxiliary machinery wrapped in asbestos insulation. Torpedo rooms used asbestos-insulated components for tube equipment and weapon storage. Nuclear reactor compartments required heavy asbestos insulation for both fire safety and radiation shielding. Sonar spaces were among the most heavily insulated compartments on any submarine class. Crew quarters — berthing spaces located directly adjacent to machinery — exposed sleeping sailors continuously to disturbed fibers. Galley and mess spaces were similarly situated near engineering areas. Routine maintenance activities — chipping insulation, replacing gaskets, and relining exhaust systems — released the highest concentrations of fibers, and in a submerged submarine, those fibers had nowhere to go.

Which submarine classes had documented asbestos use?

Asbestos was specified for use in every major U.S. submarine class from the 1920s through the early 1970s. Attack submarines (SSK), ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), guided missile submarines (SSGN), fleet submarines (SF), and nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) all required asbestos as a building material under Navy specifications. The most heavily affected classes include the Gato-class and Balao-class fleet submarines of WWII, the Nautilus (SSN-571) — the first nuclear submarine — and the George Washington-class SSBN ballistic missile submarines commissioned in the 1960s. The Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, built the majority of U.S. nuclear submarines and has been the site of significant documented occupational asbestos exposure for both submarine crew and shipyard workers.

What VA benefits are available to submarine veterans with mesothelioma?

Submarine veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are entitled to a 100% VA disability rating, which in 2026 pays $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $4,158.17 per month with a spouse. The VA Caregiver Support Program provides additional monthly payments to family members providing care. If a veteran dies from mesothelioma, surviving spouses receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) at a base rate of $1,699.36 per month. Veterans with mesothelioma are also eligible for VA healthcare at any VA cancer treatment center at no cost, and priority placement in VA hospice or palliative care. The PACT Act of 2022 expanded presumptive eligibility for veterans who served in burn pit environments, but mesothelioma caused by shipboard asbestos exposure has long qualified under the VA's asbestos exposure presumption for Navy veterans. A VA-accredited veterans' benefits attorney can file both VA and asbestos trust fund claims simultaneously to maximize total recovery.

How do submarine veterans document asbestos exposure for a VA or legal claim?

Three categories of documentation are most effective for submarine veterans. Service records establish the submarine classes and homeports where a veteran served — the DD-214 lists discharge MOS/rating, and military personnel records show duty assignments and vessel assignments. The VA's own Duty MOS/Rating Probability of Exposure Matrix classifies Sonar Technician (Submarine), designated STS, as "Highly Probable" for asbestos exposure — one of only 18 Navy ratings to receive that designation. This means the VA presumes exposure occurred, reducing the evidentiary burden significantly. Second, Navy vessel records document the specific submarines (by hull number) where asbestos-containing materials were used — the Navy Ships' Log Database and historical procurement records identify asbestos-containing insulation by manufacturer and compartment. Third, a physician declaration from a treating oncologist connecting the diagnosis to occupational asbestos exposure strengthens both VA disability claims and civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers such as Owens Corning, Johns Manville, and Combustion Engineering.

Can submarine veterans sue asbestos manufacturers in addition to filing VA claims?

Yes. The Feres Doctrine prevents veterans from suing the federal government for injuries sustained during military service, but it does not protect private asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed on Navy submarines. Submarine veterans — and the families of veterans who died from mesothelioma — can pursue civil litigation against the manufacturers of the specific asbestos-containing products installed in the compartments where they worked and lived. Key defendants in submarine asbestos cases have included Foster Wheeler (boilers), Owens Corning (insulation), Johns Manville (insulation and gaskets), Garlock Sealing Technologies (gaskets), and Combustion Engineering (nuclear reactor insulation). Many of these companies subsequently declared bankruptcy and established asbestos compensation trust funds. Filing VA benefits and trust fund claims are not mutually exclusive — both can be pursued simultaneously, and VA compensation does not reduce trust fund recovery.

References

Boice JD Jr et al. (2019). 65-Year Mortality Follow-Up of Approximately 114,000 Atomic Veterans. International Journal of Radiation Biology. Navy mesothelioma SMR 2.15 overall; high-risk ratings SMR 6.47.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2024). Duty MOS/Rating Probability of Exposure Matrix — Navy Asbestos Classifications. VBA Manual M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 1.
Browne K. (2008). Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences. PMC / NCBI. PMC2604477. Navy specification of asbestos for submarines beginning 1922; chrysotile and amosite types specified.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025, December 1). VA Disability Compensation Rates — 100% Rating. Effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025, December 1). Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Rates — 2026. Base rate $1,699.36/month for surviving spouses.
National Cancer Institute. (2025). Mesothelioma — Cancer Statistics. cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, August 10). The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits. va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/.
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National Cancer Institute. (2025). Mesothelioma Treatment — Patient Version. cancer.gov.
U.S. Navy. (1971–1973). Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Letters and Specification Updates — Asbestos Phase-Out. Naval Sea Systems Command records.