The Improved Los Angeles class (688I) fast-attack submarines — approximately USS San Juan (SSN-751) through USS Cheyenne (SSN-773), commissioned between 1988 and 1996 — incorporated the vertical launch system (VLS) for Tomahawk cruise missiles, a strengthened sail for under-ice operations, and upgraded electronics compared to the baseline Los Angeles class. The 688I boats were built at Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding during the 1985-1996 period that spanned the Navy’s transition away from asbestos in new construction.

Asbestos Phase-Down in 688I Construction

The Improved Los Angeles class was built during and after the Navy’s systematic elimination of asbestos from new ship construction specifications — a process that began in the early 1980s and was substantially complete for most applications by the late 1980s. The earliest 688I hulls (commissioned 1988-1991) were built during the transition period:

  • Transitional specification period — the earliest 688I hulls were built when the Navy’s asbestos phase-down was underway but not complete for all component categories. Some auxiliary steam system components and specialty items in these early hulls may have been supplied with asbestos-containing materials under specifications still in revision
  • Later 688I hulls commissioned after approximately 1992 were built under specifications that had substantially eliminated asbestos from new naval construction

Comparison to Baseline Los Angeles Class

The baseline Los Angeles class submarines (SSN-688 through SSN-750) commissioned from 1976 to 1988 were built during the full asbestos use period through the asbestos phase-down, with earlier hulls containing asbestos in secondary steam insulation and transitional hulls in a mixed specification state. Navy veterans comparing their 688 versus 688I assignments for asbestos exposure should note that earlier baseline 688 hulls (commissioned 1976-1984) have the stronger asbestos exposure claim.

Nuclear Secondary Steam Plant

All Los Angeles class submarines — both baseline and improved variants — use the same S6G reactor plant generating secondary steam for propulsion. The secondary steam circuit components are the asbestos exposure source in submarine engineering spaces, and the transition from asbestos to substitute materials in this circuit is what distinguishes earlier from later hulls in the class.

VA Claims for 688I Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy submarines. Veterans who served in engineering billets aboard Improved Los Angeles class submarines and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer should document all prior submarine and shipboard assignments, as prior duty aboard older vessels with asbestos insulation may provide the primary exposure pathway.

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 Improved LA Class

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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

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.