USS Thad Cochran (DDG-135), an Arleigh Burke class Flight III guided missile destroyer, is under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and will join the Atlantic Fleet upon commissioning. Thad Cochran is powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines and incorporates the SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar characteristic of Flight III hulls. Thad Cochran incorporated asbestos-containing hull insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, and construction materials consistent with current naval construction specifications.

USS Thad Cochran Hull Construction and Systems Asbestos

Thad Cochran’s hull construction and onboard systems incorporated asbestos in multiple areas:

  • Hull and structural insulation — Thad Cochran’s crew berthing, combat information center, engineering spaces, and working spaces were constructed with insulation materials consistent with current naval construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records included asbestos-containing materials
  • Auxiliary steam and piping systems — Thad Cochran’s auxiliary steam systems and associated pipe lagging incorporated asbestos-containing insulation materials consistent with current construction specifications
  • Gaskets and packing materials — Thad Cochran’s engineering spaces incorporated gaskets and valve packing consistent with current construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records included asbestos-containing materials
  • Fire-protective and thermal barriers — Thad Cochran’s combat spaces and engineering compartments incorporated fire-protective insulation materials consistent with current naval construction standards

VA Claims for USS Thad Cochran Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Gas Turbine System Technicians, Boatswain’s Mates, Fire Controlmen, Operations Specialists, and crew members who served aboard USS Thad Cochran and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

Product & Manufacturer Reference

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Thad Cochran

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.