Veterans, Mesothelioma & VA Benefits — Connecticut
Introduction
United States military veterans — particularly Navy veterans who served on or worked around warships and submarines — bear a disproportionate share of the mesothelioma burden in the United States. The U.S. military used asbestos extensively in ships, submarines, aircraft, and military facilities from the 1930s through the late 1970s, exposing millions of service members to dangerous levels of asbestos fiber.
Connecticut has a uniquely significant military asbestos history. The Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton — the home port of the U.S. submarine fleet — and the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard, also in Groton, together represent one of the most concentrated military and industrial asbestos exposure sites in the northeastern United States.
If you are a Navy veteran who served on a submarine or worked at a Connecticut military facility and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have three concurrent pathways to compensation — VA disability benefits, asbestos trust fund claims, and civil litigation. Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC has been representing Connecticut veterans in mesothelioma cases for over 22 years. Contact our mesothelioma attorneys today for a free case evaluation.
Military Asbestos Exposure in Connecticut
Naval Submarine Base New London — Groton
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base on the East Coast and home port of the Atlantic submarine fleet. Personnel who lived and worked on submarines at New London were exposed to asbestos throughout the vessels — in pipe insulation, reactor compartment insulation, valve packing, gaskets, cable insulation, and fireproofing materials. Submarine interiors — confined spaces with poor ventilation — created some of the most intense asbestos exposure conditions in any military setting.
General Dynamics Electric Boat — Groton
Electric Boat is the Navy's primary submarine manufacturer and has built every class of nuclear-powered submarine since the USS Nautilus in 1954. Each submarine contained approximately 60,000 pounds of asbestos thermal insulation. Navy personnel who accepted delivery of submarines at Groton, served on boats built at Electric Boat, or worked at the shipyard during construction or overhaul were exposed to significant quantities of asbestos. See our Electric Boat asbestos exposure page for a full history of asbestos use at the facility.
Other Connecticut Military Asbestos Sites
- •Naval Air Station Groton — personnel who worked on aircraft or in facilities using asbestos-containing materials
- •Coast Guard Station New London — vessels and facilities
- •Connecticut National Guard facilities — pre-1980 buildings and vehicle maintenance using asbestos-containing parts
Three Pathways to Compensation for Veterans
Veterans who develop mesothelioma from military asbestos exposure have three independent pathways to compensation that can be pursued simultaneously:
Pathway 1 — VA Disability Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides disability compensation to veterans whose mesothelioma is connected to their military service. This is called service connection — establishing that the veteran's illness was caused by or aggravated by their military service.
For mesothelioma, service connection is typically established through:
- •Military service records showing service aboard a vessel known to contain asbestos, or assignment to a facility with documented asbestos exposure
- •Medical evidence confirming the mesothelioma diagnosis
- •A nexus opinion from a physician connecting the diagnosis to the in-service asbestos exposure
VA disability compensation for mesothelioma is typically rated at 100% disability — the maximum rating — given the severity of the disease. This provides monthly tax-free compensation payments to the veteran and, in many cases, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and dependents if the veteran dies from the service-connected condition.
Veterans may also be entitled to VA healthcare for mesothelioma treatment — including access to VA medical centers and affiliated specialist centers. The VA's National Oncology Program provides access to oncology expertise at VA facilities nationwide.
VA disability compensation and civil litigation compensation are not mutually exclusive — you can receive both. VA benefits are paid by the government and do not reduce your right to pursue compensation from the asbestos product manufacturers responsible for your exposure.
Pathway 2 — Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Military asbestos exposure occurred because the Navy and private contractors installed asbestos-containing products manufactured by companies that are now bankrupt and have established compensation trusts. Veterans who served aboard vessels containing these products are eligible to file claims directly with the trusts — independently of their VA claim. Trust fund claims do not require proving government negligence and do not go through the VA system. See our asbestos trust funds page for a full explanation of the trust fund process.
For Navy veterans who served on submarines built at Electric Boat, the range of potentially applicable trusts is substantial — because a single submarine contained asbestos products from 20 or more manufacturers, most of which have established bankruptcy trusts. A veteran who served on multiple submarines over a career may qualify for claims with an even larger number of trusts.
Pathway 3 — Civil Litigation
In addition to VA benefits and trust fund claims, veterans may be able to pursue civil lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used during their military service. The government contractor defense — which shields some military contractors from liability — does not apply to all manufacturers or all circumstances, and an experienced mesothelioma attorney will assess whether civil litigation is viable in your specific case.
For veterans who served on submarines built at Electric Boat, civil litigation against Electric Boat itself may be an option — because Electric Boat does not have a bankruptcy trust and pays successful civil claimants directly from its own funds.
The Feres Doctrine — Can Veterans Sue the Government?
The Feres doctrine generally bars active-duty military members from suing the federal government for injuries that arise incident to their military service — including asbestos exposure during service. This means that veterans typically cannot sue the U.S. Navy or the federal government directly for military asbestos exposure.
However, the Feres doctrine does not bar claims against the private manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used by the military. The targets of mesothelioma litigation by veterans are the companies that made and sold asbestos insulation, gaskets, packing, and other products — not the government. This is why trust fund claims and civil litigation against product manufacturers remain fully available to veterans, even though direct government claims are barred.
VA Benefits for Surviving Families
If a veteran has died from mesothelioma that was service-connected, or if a claim for service connection was pending at the time of death, the veteran's surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents may be entitled to:
- •Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — monthly tax-free payments to the surviving spouse and dependents of a veteran who died from a service-connected condition
- •Accrued benefits — any VA compensation payments that were due to the veteran at the time of death but not yet paid
- •VA burial benefits — assistance with funeral and burial expenses for eligible veterans
In addition to VA survivor benefits, surviving family members may have their own independent wrongful death claims against asbestos product manufacturers, as well as the right to continue any pending trust fund claims filed by the veteran before death. See our wrongful death page for more information.
Connecticut Veterans — Specific Resources
- •Naval Submarine Base New London — Groton, CT: primary point of contact for service records related to submarine service
- •VA Connecticut Healthcare System — 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516 — (203) 932-5711
- •Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs — 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 — (860) 616-3600
- •Connecticut Veterans Legal Center — free legal services for Connecticut veterans
Connecticut Statute of Limitations
Connecticut's statute of limitations for mesothelioma is three years from the date of diagnosis (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584). VA claims have their own separate deadlines — but there is no statute of limitations on filing an initial VA disability claim. However, benefits are generally paid from the date of the claim, not the date of diagnosis — so filing early maximizes total VA compensation. Trust fund claims also have their own deadlines. Contact an attorney immediately after diagnosis to ensure no deadlines are missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I served on a submarine at Naval Submarine Base New London. Am I eligible for VA benefits?+−
If you served on a submarine and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are very likely eligible for VA disability compensation at the 100% rate. Submarine service is one of the strongest bases for service connection because of the well-documented, pervasive asbestos exposure in submarine construction and the confined spaces in which crew members lived and worked. Contact us — and the VA — immediately after diagnosis.
I filed a VA claim and was denied. Can I still pursue trust fund claims and civil litigation?+−
Yes. A VA denial does not affect your right to pursue asbestos trust fund claims or civil litigation against product manufacturers. The VA and the civil/trust fund systems are entirely independent. Many veterans who are denied VA benefits — or who receive lower ratings than expected — still recover significant compensation through the trust fund and civil litigation pathways.
My father was a Navy veteran who died from mesothelioma. What are my options?+−
As the surviving family member of a veteran who died from service-connected mesothelioma, you may be entitled to VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), accrued VA benefits, and VA burial benefits. You may also have independent wrongful death claims against asbestos product manufacturers and the right to continue any pending trust fund claims. Contact us for a confidential evaluation of your full range of options.
Can I receive VA benefits and trust fund compensation at the same time?+−
Yes. VA disability compensation and trust fund payments are independent — receiving one does not reduce eligibility for the other. Both can be pursued simultaneously and both can be received. Your attorney will structure all claims to maximize total recovery across every available pathway.
Why Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC?
Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC has been handling Connecticut mesothelioma and asbestos litigation for over 22 years. Founding partner Edward Jazlowiecki holds a degree in Chemical Engineering — giving the firm a scientific understanding of asbestos products, exposure pathways, and the specific materials used at Connecticut's major industrial facilities. We handle mesothelioma cases on a contingency basis — no fee unless we win.
View our full case results:
- •$72 million recovered for victims of the Lac-Mégantic train disaster (global multi-party settlement)
- •$4.3 million — Propecia global settlement
The $72M recovery involved multiple parties and law firms.
Contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC — Free Case Evaluation
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease, contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Visit our mesothelioma lawyers page to learn more, or submit a free case evaluation online.
Call: (860) 589-8000 — available 24/7
Email: Info@Jazlowiecki.com
No fee unless we win. Connecticut statute of limitations: 3 years from date of diagnosis.