Coast Guard Veterans and Mesothelioma

Other compensation options for Coast Guard veterans and their loved ones are:

• Filing a lawsuit: Coast Guard veterans may file a lawsuit against the companies that supplied asbestos products to the armed forces.
• Filing an asbestos trust fund claim: Some asbestos companies have trust funds to pay asbestos exposure victims. A company’s trust fund may provide payouts to veterans exposed to its asbestos products.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help veterans determine their compensation options.

Some examples of compensation Coast Guard veterans have received include:

• A 63-year-old Coast Guard veteran and engineer received more than $8.8 million.
• A 60-year-old Coast Guard veteran received more than $4.36 million.
• A 72-year-old Coast Guard veteran and mechanic received more than $1.9 million.
• A 72-year-old Coast Guard veteran received more than $930,000.
• A 90-year-old Coast Guard veteran received nearly $710,000.

Other Benefits for Coast Guard Veterans

Coast Guard veterans may also be eligible for health care benefits through the VA. At VA treatment centers, veterans can receive low-cost mesothelioma care. At some hospitals, veterans may receive treatment from top mesothelioma doctors.

Coast Guard veterans may also receive mesothelioma treatment from private hospitals. Some Coast Guard veterans may be eligible to receive care from non-VA treatment centers through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). This program enables veterans to receive care in their local area paid for by the VA.

In addition to healthcare, Coast Guard veterans have access to VA:

• Career advising
• Home loans
• Insurance

02. Coast Guard Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure in the Coast Guard

Coast Guard veterans may have experienced asbestos exposure from military bases, Coast Guard ships, shipyards and aircraft. Asbestos was used by military branches as an additive for fireproofing and durability.

The Coast Guard has a total of 38 bases in 16 different states. Veterans who were stationed at these bases may have been exposed to asbestos in offices, barracks and shipyards. Family members may have been exposed in family housing.

Some Coast Guard workers were more likely to come into contact with asbestos products than others.

Coast Guard occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure include:

• Electricians
• Machinists
• Pipefitters
• Shipyard workers
• Technicians
• Woodworkers
• Welders

The Coast Guard is smaller than the U.S. Navy. However, Coast Guard veterans experienced exposure at a similar rate to Navy veterans.

Asbestos Exposure on Ships and Shipyards

Coast Guard members on ships and those who oversaw shipyard operations may have been exposed to asbestos.

On ships, asbestos insulation could be found in:

• Boiler rooms
• Engine rooms
• High-heat areas on the lower deck
• Pump rooms

Asbestos was also found in sleeping quarters, mess halls and other areas onboard.

The confined spaces on ships often led to highly concentrated airborne asbestos fibers. When these fibers were disturbed, they could travel through the ship and expose service members and staff.

The military stopped using asbestos products in shipbuilding in the 1970s. However, Coast Guard members continued to be exposed while repairing and demolishing older ships.

Asbestos on Coast Guard Cutters

U.S. Coast Guard Cutters (USCGC) are commissioned Coast Guard vessels with an assigned crew.

Records show Coast Guard members who served on USCGCs before 1991 may have experienced asbestos exposure. Asbestos materials on USCGCs included thermal insulation and floor tiles.

USCGC crew members may have experienced exposure during maintenance work. Examples include removing floor tiles or thermal insulation. Before the 1970s, maintenance was often done without protective equipment.

03. Coast Guard Veterans’ Mesothelioma Risk

Mesothelioma Risk Among Coast Guard Veterans

Coast Guard veterans who came into contact with asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma. After asbestos exposure, it may take 50 years or more for mesothelioma to develop. Due to the long latency period, veterans continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

According to a study of more than 4,000 civilian Coast Guard shipyard workers, shipyard workers were five times more likely to have died of mesothelioma than the general population. The study documented the mortality of workers employed at a shipyard from 1950 – 1965. The study concluded in 2001.

The Coast Guard shipyard worker group also had higher rates of death from emphysema, respiratory cancer and lung cancer. The study authors concluded asbestos exposure played a role in these deaths.

04. Mesothelioma Treatment for Veterans

Mesothelioma Treatment for Coast Guard Veterans

Coast Guard veterans with an asbestos-related disease have treatment options. Veterans can go to VA hospitals. They can also go to local facilities through the VA’s Community Care Network (CCN).

The CCN gives veterans the option to get treated closer to home. This option lets veterans with mesothelioma go to a mesothelioma specialist in their area.

05. Preventing Asbestos Exposure

Protecting Coast Guard Members From Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos may still be present on some Coast Guard vessels and bases. To protect service members, the Coast Guard and other agencies have developed regulations and laws to limit asbestos exposure.

In the 1980s, the Coast Guard implemented the Occupational Medical Surveillance & Evaluation Program (OMSEP). The program includes monitoring Coast Guard personnel occupational asbestos exposures and exposures to other hazardous chemicals.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also monitors the Coast Guard to protect personnel. OSHA provides guidelines related to levels of asbestos and other contaminants in ships, shipyards and bases across the country.

OSHA regulations do the following:

• Require medical surveillance for employees exposed to certain levels of asbestos
• Require specific training for employees who may encounter asbestos
• Set safety standards for employees who work with asbestos

These programs aim to protect Coast Guard service members and diagnose asbestos-related illnesses early. Early diagnosis of mesothelioma and lung cancer may help service members and veterans improve life expectancy and quality of life.

Coast Guard veterans diagnosed with an asbestos disease should contact a mesothelioma law firm to discuss their potential compensation options.

09. Common Questions