USS South Dakota (SSN-790), a Virginia class Block III nuclear attack submarine, was commissioned at General Dynamics Electric Boat in February 2019 and homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. South Dakota operates as a multi-mission platform capable of anti-submarine warfare, strike missions, and special operations support. South Dakota’s S9G nuclear propulsion plant drove steam turbines providing propulsion through her service.

USS South Dakota Nuclear Propulsion Plant Asbestos

South Dakota’s nuclear steam propulsion plant incorporated insulation in critical system components:

  • Nuclear steam plant insulation — South Dakota’s S9G secondary steam system, steam generators, and associated high-pressure steam piping incorporated thermal insulation materials consistent with 2019 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 — South Dakota’s main propulsion turbine and reduction gear system incorporated insulation materials consistent with the Virginia class construction specifications
  • Hull construction materials — South Dakota’s crew berthing, torpedo room, operations compartment, and working spaces were constructed using the hull construction materials of the Virginia class Block III building program

VA Claims for USS South Dakota Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy nuclear submarine service. Nuclear-trained ratings, Engineering ratings, and crew members who served aboard USS South Dakota 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 South Dakota

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.