USS Hayler (DD-997), the thirty-first and final ship of the Spruance class destroyers, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in March 1983 — the last of the class to be commissioned and the last ship completed under the landmark Ingalls Shipbuilding multi-ship Spruance contract. Hayler served in the Atlantic Fleet throughout her career and was equipped with the Tomahawk vertical launch system during her service before decommissioning in 2003. Hayler’s all-gas-turbine propulsion plant — four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines — provided propulsion through her 20-year service. Built in 1981–1983, Hayler incorporated hull construction materials and gas turbine exhaust system insulation consistent with the early 1980s construction period.

USS Hayler Gas Turbine and Construction Asbestos

Hayler’s gas turbine propulsion plant and hull construction:

  • Gas turbine exhaust system insulation — the gas turbine exhaust ducting and uptake systems aboard Hayler carrying high-temperature exhaust from the LM2500 gas turbines incorporated thermal insulation materials consistent with early 1980s naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Hayler’s engineering spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from any asbestos-containing exhaust system insulation
  • Gas turbine module enclosures — the acoustic and thermal enclosures surrounding Hayler’s LM2500 gas turbine modules incorporated insulation materials consistent with early 1980s construction specifications
  • Hull construction materials — Hayler’s crew berthing, combat systems spaces, VLS magazine (post-upgrade), and working areas were constructed using the hull construction materials of the 1981–1983 building period reflecting the transitional construction practices of the early 1980s
  • Tomahawk VLS magazine construction — the vertical launch system magazines installed in Hayler during her VLS upgrade incorporated construction materials of the upgrade period

VA Claims for USS Hayler Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy destroyer service. Officers and crew members who served aboard USS Hayler 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 Hayler

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.