Navy
Rating AB
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (ABE Launching/Recovery, ABF Fuels, ABH Aircraft Handling)
Navy AB (Aviation Boatswain's Mate (ABE Launching/Recovery, ABF Fuels, ABH Aircraft Handling)) typically involves aviation mission support and aircraft-related duties, deck, seamanship, or maritime operations.
Common Exposures
🔊 Noise
Flight line noise from jet engines and aircraft
🧪 Chemicals
Aviation fuels, solvents, hydraulic fluids, lubricants
💪 Physical Strain
Lifting heavy components, working in confined aircraft spaces
💪 Physical Strain
Heavy physical labor, line handling
🌦️ Environmental
Weather exposure, salt water, sun
🔊 Noise
Ship machinery and operations
⚠️ Asbestos
VA-acknowledged PROBABLE asbestos exposure. Aviation Boatswain's Mates worked on flight decks and in hangar bays containing asbestos brake materials, gaskets, and structural insulation.
Likely Service-Connected Conditions
| Diagnostic Code | Condition | Likelihood | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5237 | Lumbosacral or cervical strain | High | Heavy physical labor and line handling |
| 6260 | Tinnitus, recurrent | High | Constant flight line noise exposure |
| 5242 | Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome | Medium | Repetitive heavy lifting |
| 5257 | Knee, other impairment of | Medium | Climbing ladders, physical deck work |
| 6847 | Sleep Apnea Syndromes | Medium | Shift work and irregular schedules |
| 9434 | Major depressive disorder | Medium | High-stress environment |
☢️ PACT Act & Toxic Exposure
Select the era that best matches when you served to see how this job’s toxic exposures changed over time.
Vietnam Era
📅 1962-1975
No era-specific PACT Act crosswalk data is available for this job in that time period.
Cold War Era
📅 1945-1991
No era-specific PACT Act crosswalk data is available for this job in that time period.
Gulf War Era
📅 1990-2001
No era-specific PACT Act crosswalk data is available for this job in that time period.
Post-9/11 Era
📅 2001-present
No era-specific PACT Act crosswalk data is available for this job in that time period.