U.S. Coast Guard Veterans: Asbestos Exposure & Trust Fund Compensation
Coast Guard veterans served on cutters and at stations with asbestos installations similar to Navy operations. The smaller Coast Guard force had concentrated exposure during shipboard duty and at major Coast Guard stations.
See if you qualify — U.S. Coast Guard Veterans claim review
Why u.s. coast guard veterans face elevated mesothelioma risk
Coast Guard exposure to asbestos closely paralleled Navy exposure, with smaller force size and different operational profile. Coast Guard cutters used the same boiler manufacturers, pipe insulation, and gasket products as Navy ships. Coast Guard maintenance personnel performed similar work to Navy engineering rates. Major Coast Guard stations (Curtis Bay Yard, Boston, Norfolk, Alameda, Honolulu, Kodiak) had asbestos installations in administrative and operational buildings. Cutter overhauls were typically performed at Curtis Bay Yard (Baltimore) — the Coast Guard's primary shipyard.
Common asbestos exposure sources for u.s. coast guard veterans
Coast Guard exposure:
- Cutter shipboard exposure — pipe insulation, boiler refractory, gaskets aboard Coast Guard cutters (similar profile to Navy)
- Curtis Bay Yard — Coast Guard's primary shipyard at Baltimore for cutter overhauls
- Major station infrastructure — buildings at Coast Guard stations used asbestos installations
- Aviation maintenance — Coast Guard aircraft and helicopter maintenance involved asbestos brake/gasket work
- Lighthouse and aids-to-navigation — older facilities with asbestos installations
Trust funds that commonly apply
Based on typical exposure profiles, u.s. coast guard veterans commonly qualify for filing with these asbestos bankruptcy trust funds:
How to file as a coast guard veteran
Coast Guard veteran trust filing closely parallels Navy: Babcock & Wilcox + Combustion Engineering (boiler exposure), Owens Corning/Fibreboard (Kaylo), Pittsburgh Corning (Unibestos), Garlock (gaskets), Manville. 8-12 trusts typical for shipboard duty.
Documentation needed
- DD-214
- Coast Guard service record showing rating and cutter/station assignments
- Medical diagnosis records
Frequently asked questions
I served on a Coast Guard cutter — Navy trusts apply?
Yes. Coast Guard cutters used the same boiler manufacturers, pipe insulation, and gasket products as Navy ships. File the standard Navy trust package. See Navy veterans page for the full filing list.
What about Curtis Bay Yard workers?
Curtis Bay Yard (Baltimore) was the Coast Guard's primary shipyard for cutter overhauls. Civilian workers at Curtis Bay had exposure profiles similar to Navy shipyard workers — file the full shipyard worker trust package. See civilian shipyard workers page.
Coast Guard Aviation — eligible?
Yes. Coast Guard aircraft and helicopter maintenance involved asbestos brake systems and engine gaskets. File Federal-Mogul plus aviation-related trusts.
Did the Coast Guard have boiler technicians like the Navy?
Yes — Coast Guard had Machinery Technician (MK) ratings (formerly EN — Engineman) that performed boiler operations and maintenance work similar to Navy BTs and MMs. Coast Guard MKs have strong trust filing profiles.
Mesothelioma VA presumptive — applies to Coast Guard?
Yes. VA presumes service connection for mesothelioma for Coast Guard veterans with documented military asbestos exposure, same as Navy and other branches.
Ready to file as a coast guard veteran?
We file with all applicable trusts at once. Free case review, no upfront cost.