USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the final ship of the Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carriers, was commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding in January 2009 and has served in the Atlantic Fleet conducting carrier strike group operations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. George H.W. Bush’s two A4W nuclear reactors drove steam turbines powering four propeller shafts providing propulsion and ship’s service power through her service. Commissioned in 2009, George H.W. Bush incorporated steam system insulation and hull construction materials consistent with the Nimitz class late 2000s construction specifications.

USS George H.W. Bush Nuclear Propulsion Plant Asbestos

George H.W. Bush’s nuclear steam propulsion plant incorporated insulation in critical systems:

  • Nuclear steam plant insulation — George H.W. Bush’s A4W secondary steam system, steam generators, and associated high-pressure steam piping throughout her engineering spaces incorporated thermal insulation materials consistent with late 2000s naval nuclear construction specifications, which according to publicly filed litigation records may have included asbestos-containing insulation materials in certain legacy-specified systems
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — George H.W. Bush’s main propulsion turbines and reduction gear systems incorporated insulation materials consistent with the Nimitz class construction specifications
  • Aviation support systems — George H.W. Bush’s catapult steam systems, arresting gear, and aviation fuel and weapons systems incorporated insulation and construction materials consistent with late 2000s carrier construction specifications
  • Hull construction materials — George H.W. Bush’s crew berthing, hangar bay, flight deck support structures, and working spaces were constructed using the hull construction materials of the Nimitz class building program

VA Claims for USS George H.W. Bush 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. Nuclear-trained ratings, Aviation ratings, Engineering ratings, and crew members who served aboard USS George H.W. Bush 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 George H.W. Bush

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.