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- We fight to maximize your results
- Many clients get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for you or your family
Mesothelioma & U.S. Coast Guard Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard ships and bases relied on asbestos materials for decades. This put U.S. Coast Guard service members at high risk of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Simmons Hanly Conroy, a veteran-founded mesothelioma law firm, may be able to help you access financial compensation if you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease.
Call (800) 326-8900 now to see if you qualify. It costs nothing to speak with us.
U.S. Coast Guard Veterans and Asbestos Exposure
Between the 1930s and late 1970s, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) relied heavily on asbestos, a mineral used to make products more durable and heat-resistant. Service members who worked with or around asbestos were at risk of unknowingly inhaling or swallowing toxic asbestos fibers.
Unfortunately, the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew it was dangerous, but they hid these risks for decades so they could continue to make a profit.
This put thousands of innocent service members in the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary were put at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
In fact, 33% of all mesothelioma cases have been linked to asbestos exposure in the military or military shipyards. Though asbestos was used by all branches of the military, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard veterans have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma.
Today, U.S. Coast Guard veterans with mesothelioma can work with Simmons Hanly Conroy to take legal action against the asbestos manufacturers that harmed them. Since 1999, our mesothelioma law firm has recovered billions of dollars for clients across the United States.
Get a Free Legal Consultation
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many clients get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for you or your family
How Did the U.S. Coast Guard Use Asbestos?
U.S. Coast Guard ships (known as cutters) needed to be fireproof, and asbestos helped shipbuilders achieve this. Asbestos was commonly used in engine and boiler rooms and around pipes as insulation.
U.S. Coast Guard cutters utilized hundreds of asbestos products, like:
- Boiler insulation
- Cement
- Distillers
- Fireproof doors
- Electrical wiring
- Gaskets
- Hatches
- Packing material
- Pipe covering
- Pumps
- Rope
- Valves
On land, asbestos was a part of everyday life in the U.S. Coast Guard. Virtually every U.S. Coast Guard base and installation used countless construction products that contained asbestos: floor tiles, ceiling and roofing materials, insulation and other building materials.
U.S. Coast Guard planes, helicopters and vehicles may have also used products that contained asbestos like brake pads and engine linings.
U.S. Coast Guard Jobs with Higher Asbestos Exposure Risk
Anyone who served in the U.S. Coast Guard when asbestos was used may have been exposed to this dangerous material. However, some jobs put U.S. Coast Guard personnel in contact with asbestos on a daily basis.
Roles with a higher risk of U.S. Coast Guard asbestos exposure included:
- Boiler tenders
- Insulators
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Shipyard workers
- Technicians
Shipyard workers arguably had the highest risk of asbestos exposure since they frequently installed and removed asbestos products found aboard U.S. Coast Guard ships.
If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, our experienced mesothelioma lawyers may be able to help you pursue financial compensation.
Call (800) 326-8900 today for a free legal consultation.
List of U.S. Coast Guard Cutters with Asbestos
Hundreds of cutters were built with asbestos-containing products, according to U.S. Coast Guard records.
U.S. Coast Guard cutters with asbestos included:
Note: The list above may not include every USCG cutter that contained asbestos.
Contact our team to see if the U.S. Coast Guard vessel you or a loved one served on had asbestos on board.
Mesothelioma in U.S. Coast Guard Veterans
Any U.S. Coast Guard veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their service may be at risk of developing mesothelioma later in life. This cancer forms in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testes 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.
As the dangers of asbestos became more widely recognized in the 1970s, the U.S. government banned its use in new ship construction. However, many older ships and structures remained in service for years, creating a risk of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma for many in the U.S. Coast Guard.
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating, as this cancer has no cure and is highly aggressive. U.S. Coast Guard veterans may also worry about medical expenses and the well-being of their family if they pass away.
Fortunately, Simmons Hanly Conroy is here to help veterans with mesothelioma find justice and peace of mind.
Mesothelioma Compensation for U.S. Coast Guard Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard veterans with mesothelioma may be able to access compensation from both the VA and the companies that made the asbestos products they were exposed to.
Mesothelioma compensation can help members of the U.S. Coast Guard afford:
- Medical expenses
- Travel costs
- House payments
- Grocery bills
- Any additional purchases
Simmons Hanly Conroy has recovered over $9.6 billion for clients with mesothelioma. We can help determine your eligibility for mesothelioma compensation at no cost to you.
Seeking mesothelioma compensation from a lawsuit or claim has no effect on your ability to pursue and receive VA benefits in the future.
VA Financial Benefits
VA financial benefits can award eligible veterans with monthly payments or other forms of compensation, like disability compensation and caregiver compensation.
The VA may be able to help you:
- Receive monthly payments to make up for lost wages or medical costs
- Obtain treatment at a VA medical center
- Save money for your family’s future
The disability rating for mesothelioma is 100%, which means you may be eligible for over $3,700 a month from the VA if you qualify.
Veterans can work with one of the VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy to prepare their VA claims and pursue the benefits they’re eligible for.
VA Health Care Benefits
U.S. Coast Guard veterans with mesothelioma can also access medical care through the VA. Some of the world’s top mesothelioma doctors and surgeons work with the VA to treat veterans with this rare cancer all over the country.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Through mesothelioma lawsuits, you can hold the companies that manufactured the asbestos product(s) you were exposed to responsible for their wrongdoing.
You won’t be suing the U.S. Coast Guard or any other branch of the U.S. military during this process.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we have over 25 years of experience standing up to big corporations, and we have secured the highest mesothelioma verdict in history.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Our attorneys can also see if you can access compensation from asbestos trust funds, which were established by asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy.
Filing an asbestos trust fund claim does not require you to go to court, and you may be eligible to file multiple claims if you were exposed to a variety of products containing asbestos.
There is currently an estimated $30 billion available in asbestos trust funds for mesothelioma patients and their families.
Our Mesothelioma Settlements for Veterans
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we strive to minimize the disruption a lawsuit may have in your life and maximize the potential compensation in your asbestos case.
Some of our past mesothelioma settlements for veterans include:
- $3 million to a 69-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and telephone technician in California
- $1.2 million to a boil tender in Texas who served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard
- $3.2 million to a U.S. Army veteran and maintenance worker in Texas
- $1.4 million to a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who worked in the shipping industry
- $3.9 million to a U.S. Air Force veteran and painter in Maryland
- $2.4 million to the heirs of a U.S. Army veteran in California
Questions About Compensation?
Contact us for a free legal consultation. Call (800) 326-8900.
Mesothelioma Lawyers for U.S. Coast Guard Veterans
The U.S. Coast Guard mesothelioma lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy are well equipped to help veterans like you pursue legal compensation and prepare your VA claims.
Our legal team can:
- Access warehouses of information related to the asbestos industry
- Work with in-house research teams to learn when, where and how you were exposed
- File claims against companies that made the asbestos products you were exposed to
- Connect you to on-staff nurses who can answer health-related questions
Simmons Hanly Conroy never files legal claims against the U.S. Coast Guard or other military branches. Our attorneys make the legal process as stress free as possible for you and your family.
If you served in the U.S. Coast Guard and later developed mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation from legal claims, VA benefits and asbestos trust funds.
Contact Simmons Hanly Conroy today for a free legal consultation. Call (800) 326-8900 or fill out our consultation form today.
Meet Our Veteran Mesothelioma Attorneys
Find out more about a few of our asbestos lawyers who have also served in the U.S. military.
John Simmons
Firm Chairman
U.S. Army Veteran
Read John’s Story
Brian Cooke
Partner
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Read Brian’s Story
Mesothelioma & U.S. Coast Guard FAQs
Is mesothelioma a VA disability?
Yes. If you were exposed to asbestos during your time in the military, you may be eligible to file a VA claim for health care and financial compensation.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating. As of December 2023, this means that you may be eligible for over $3,700 a month from the VA.
What is the VA disability rating for mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating, which means you may be eligible for over $3,700 a month from the VA.
Why do veterans get mesothelioma?
Asbestos was used across all U.S. military branches before the dangers of this toxic mineral were known to the public. Asbestos was present in the equipment, vehicles and buildings utilized by the U.S. military.
If the asbestos was disturbed and became airborne, veterans may have accidentally inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. These fibers lodge themselves in the body and may eventually lead to veterans developing mesothelioma.
Who is most likely to get mesothelioma?
Unfortunately, U.S. military veterans make up over 30% of all mesothelioma cases.
Certain occupations put people more at risk of developing mesothelioma. Those who worked with or around asbestos or who lived with someone that may have brought asbestos fibers home on their clothes are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma.
Because of the presence of asbestos on all U.S. military bases, veterans are much more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general public.
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Reviewed by:Brian J. Cooke- Fact-Checked
- Legal Reviewer
Asbestos attorney Brian Cooke joined the firm in 2004 and is now one of the firm’s partners. He previously served two tours of duty with the United States Marine Corps after graduating from University of Missouri Columbia’s School of Law. As an asbestos attorney, Brian has built his legal practice on being a legal voice for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. He works hard to put his clients first.