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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
U.S. Marine Corps Veterans with Mesothelioma
Asbestos was used across all U.S. military branches, including the U.S. Marine Corps. As a result, USMC veterans are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and other serious diseases caused by asbestos exposure.
Simmons Hanly Conroy is a veteran-founded law firm here to help U.S. Marine Corps veterans pursue justice against asbestos companies. Call (800) 326-8900 now to see if you qualify for financial compensation.
U.S. Marine Corps Veterans and Exposure to Asbestos
Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was highly regarded for its resistance to heat and chemical damage. It’s also flexible, strong and affordable, which made it a desirable building material — especially onboard oceangoing vessels such as aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and transports.
Asbestos was generally considered safe until it was disturbed. Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers is what causes mesothelioma in U.S. Marine veterans.
The abundance of asbestos used on U.S. Navy ships and USMC bases put thousands of service members in proximity to asbestos in their living and working environments.
If you are a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who developed mesothelioma after serving your country, Simmons Hanly Conroy may be able to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call (800) 326-8900 or fill out our contact form for a free legal consultation today.
Asbestos on U.S. Marine Corps Bases
Virtually every military installation had construction products that contained asbestos, including flooring tiles, ceiling and roofing materials, insulation and other materials used to resist heat.
As the dangers of asbestos became more widely recognized by the 1970s, the military banned its use in new construction. However, many older ships and structures remained in service for years, putting U.S. Marine Corps veterans at risk of exposure.
The U.S. Marine Corps clients we have represented lived and worked on military installations and bases throughout the country and across the globe.
These have included:
- Camp Garcia Vieques – Puerto Rico
- Guantanamo Bay Naval Base – Cuba
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard – San Diego, CA
- Marine Barracks – Washington D.C.
- Marine Corp Air Station – El Toro, CA
- Marine Corps Air Base – Santa Anna, CA
- Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms – Twentynine Palms, CA
- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point – Havelock, NC
- Marine Corps Base Camp Butler – Okinawa, Japan
- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune – Jacksonville, NC
- Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton – Oceanside, CA
- Marine Corps Base Hawaii (aka Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay) – Honolulu, HI
- Marine Corps Base Quantico – Quantico, VA
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot – Parris Island, SC
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot – San Diego, CA
- Marine Corps Rifle Range Camp Matthews – San Diego, CA
- Marine Reserve Center – Portland, ME
- Miramar Naval Air Station/Marine Corp Air Station – San Diego, CA
- Naval Air Station Key West – Key West, FL
- Naval Station Newport – Newport, RI
- United States Marine Corps Depot – Albany, GA
Don't see your base or station listed?
This is only a partial list of bases with asbestos. Contact Simmons Hanly Conroy today to see if your base could have exposed you to asbestos.
U.S. Marine Corps Jobs with Higher Asbestos Exposure Risks
While performing their duties, U.S. Marines often worked in close proximity to pipefitters, insulators and other trades workers. These workers regularly used the following asbestos-containing materials that contaminated the air:
- Adhesives
- Block insulation
- Body fillers
- Clutches
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Packing materials
- Refractory cement
- Seals
- Wheel bearings
Many vehicle or aircraft mechanics were at particular risk of asbestos exposure while performing routine bodywork, repairing engines and installing different vehicle parts.
Because the U.S. Marine Corps built many of its bases with asbestos-based products, construction workers and engineers were also at high risk of asbestos exposure.
If you served in the USMC and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have been exposed to asbestos during your service.
Our mesothelioma law firm has worked with over 3,000 veterans nationwide. See if we can help you pursue justice and compensation from the asbestos companies that caused you harm.
Asbestos in U.S. Marine Corps Ships and Shipyards
Asbestos was commonly used in the structures of ships, as well as the engine, boiler rooms and around the steam pipes as insulation.
Asbestos-based products used aboard ships included:
- Boiler insulation
- Fireproofing materials
- Pumps and valves
Shipyards also posed a risk of asbestos exposure for U.S. Marines, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. Shipyards had an alarming number of materials containing asbestos used to build the ships.
Here are a few of the shipyards our clients have served at:
- Brooklyn Naval Shipyard – Brooklyn, NY
- Charleston Naval Shipyard – Charleston, SC
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard – Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard – Pearl Harbor/Honolulu, HI
- San Francisco Naval Shipyard – San Francisco, CA
- Southwest Marine Shipyard – San Diego, CA
Legendary actor Steve McQueen is believed to have developed mesothelioma after working in a shipyard during his time in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“There’s no dollar value that can replace what victims of mesothelioma have lost. I can’t give them their health back. I can’t drag in the very people who got them sick, but I have the tools to hold those companies accountable for their decisions and give my clients some type of peace that their families will be provided for.”
– Brian Cooke, Firm Partner & U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
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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 Compensation for U.S. Marine Corps Veterans
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that often requires hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and treatment.
With the help of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, you may be able to secure compensation to help pay for treatment and other costs.
Mesothelioma compensation can be used to cover a variety of expenses, including:
- Medical bills, like medications and doctor visits
- Travel costs for surgeries or treatments
- Everyday expenses
- Providing for your family
- Anything else you’d like
As a U.S. Marine veteran with mesothelioma, you may have options available to help with your financial needs.
Our team has recovered more than $9.3 billion on behalf of our clients with mesothelioma. We may be able to help you access justice and financial compensation too.
Your asbestos attorneys can help you determine your eligibility for each of the following options.
VA Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for managing the VA financial benefits and VA health care benefits for all U.S. Marines and service members. Your mesothelioma attorneys can help you with every step of preparing your VA claims.
To qualify for benefits, veterans with mesothelioma have to prove they were:
- Honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps
- Exposed to asbestos during your service, making your illness service-related
- Diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease
Outside of VA benefits, U.S. Marine Corps veterans with mesothelioma may also be entitled to compensation from the companies that made or sold asbestos products.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Many asbestos companies were aware of the fact that asbestos could cause people to develop deadly illnesses, but they hid this information to protect their profits
A mesothelioma lawsuit may allow you to hold these companies accountable for their actions while seeking compensation.
No legal action will be taken against the military or government. It also won’t affect your ability to pursue VA benefits.
Asbestos Trust Funds
As asbestos companies began to file for bankruptcy in an effort to avoid mesothelioma lawsuits, the U.S. court system mandated that these companies put money into trust funds to pay victims with asbestos-related diseases.
Today, there is an estimated $30 billion remaining in asbestos trust funds.
You may be able to access compensation from multiple trust funds with the help of our mesothelioma attorneys, without ever having to go to court.
Mesothelioma Settlements for U.S. Marine Corps Veterans
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we stand by our clients and fight on their behalf to help them get the compensation they deserve.
Our mesothelioma lawyers will work to secure compensation on your behalf — at no out-of-pocket cost to you or your family. We strive to maximize the amount of compensation that you receive.
Past mesothelioma settlements and verdicts for U.S. Marine Corps clients include:
$1 Million
U.S. Marine Veteran and Laborer with Peritoneal Mesothelioma
$4.3 Million
Family of a 52-year-old U.S. Marine Who Died of Mesothelioma
$2.63 Million
U.S. Marine Veteran and Sheet Metal Worker
- 1.37 million to a U.S. Marine veteran and salesman from Florida
- $1.99 million to a U.S. Marine veteran and machinist
Questions About Compensation?
Contact us for a free legal consultation. Call (800) 326-8900.
Mesothelioma Lawyers for U.S. Marine Corps Veterans
When you work with Simmons Hanly Conroy, your legal team can help determine when and where you may have been exposed to asbestos during your military service.
We handle every step of the legal process for you, so you can focus on your health and your family. Our team will even travel to you at no charge to get started.
Additionally, we have nurses on staff to answer any questions you may have about your diagnosis or treatment options.
When you file a mesothelioma lawsuit, you won’t be suing the U.S. Marine Corps. Instead, your attorney will target the asbestos company that manufactured the products or equipment you were exposed to.
Get a free legal consultation or call (800) 326-8900 today to learn more.
Meet Our U.S. Marine Veteran Asbestos Attorneys
Get to know a few of our mesothelioma lawyers who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Michael Stewart
Partner
U.S. Marine Veteran
Read Michael’s Story
Brian J. Cooke
Partner
U.S. Marine Veteran
Read Brian’s Story
U.S. Marine Veterans and Mesothelioma FAQs
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.
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 asbestos exposure?
Mesothelioma has a 100% disability rating, which means you may be eligible for over $3,700 a month from the VA.
Why is asbestos used?
Asbestos was used because of its many helpful properties, including its strength, flexibility and resistance to heat.
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Reviewed by:John Simmons- Fact-Checked
- Legal Reviewer
John Simmons is a founder and Chairman of Simmons Hanly Conroy. After serving in the U.S. Army, he went on to earn his Doctor of Law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law. He has helped recover some of the biggest verdicts and settlements in asbestos litigation history and is rated as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers.