USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964), third ship of the Spruance class destroyers, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in June 1976 and served in the Pacific Fleet throughout her career. Foster operated as an ASW destroyer equipped with ASROC and SH-2 Seasprite helicopter facilities, and later received Tomahawk cruise missile capability through the Vertical Launch System. Foster’s all-gas-turbine propulsion plant — four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines — provided propulsion through her service. Built in 1973–1976, Foster incorporated hull construction materials and gas turbine exhaust system insulation consistent with the mid-1970s transitional construction period.

USS Paul F. Foster Gas Turbine and Construction Asbestos

Foster’s gas turbine propulsion plant and hull construction:

  • Gas turbine exhaust system insulation — the gas turbine exhaust ducting and uptake systems aboard Foster carrying high-temperature exhaust from the LM2500 gas turbines incorporated thermal insulation materials consistent with mid-1970s naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Foster’s engineering spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from any asbestos-containing exhaust system insulation
  • Gas turbine module enclosures — the acoustic and thermal enclosures surrounding Foster’s LM2500 gas turbine modules incorporated insulation materials consistent with mid-1970s construction specifications
  • Hull construction materials — Foster’s crew berthing, combat systems spaces, and working areas were constructed using the hull construction materials of the 1973–1976 building period representing the peak transitional period in naval construction away from asbestos
  • Tomahawk VLS magazine — Foster’s vertical launch system magazine installed during subsequent upgrade incorporated construction materials of the upgrade period

VA Claims for USS Paul F. Foster 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. Officers and crew members who served aboard USS Paul F. Foster 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 Paul F. Foster

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.