You or a Loved One Must Have Served, Lived, or Worked at Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune is a USMC base just outside of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Established in 1941, the base has been a major training center for the Marine Corps, and between 1953 and 1987, nearly 1 million people lived and worked in the base.² So, you don’t necessarily have to be a veteran of the Marines to receive compensation for harm caused at Camp Lejeune. Other injured parties could include the families of Marines living on the base, as well as any contractors or anyone else who worked on the base and was exposed to the water during the time period covered by the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

It Must Have Been Between August of 1953, and December of 1987

We didn’t just call those years out randomly before, the actual wording of the law specifies that only individuals who were on base specifically between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 are entitled to compensation.1 Why? Because, starting in the mid-1950’s, toxics chemicals from various sources began to leak into the groundwater around Camp Lejeune, and from there into the wells used to bring water supplies to the base. In 1982, testing showed the presence of high-levels of volatile organic compounds, far in excess of safe levels. These compounds have been shown to cause a variety of diseases, including but not limited to, Kidney Cancer, Leukemia, Parkinson’s Disease, Birth Defects, and Infertility/Miscarriages.²
Your Claim will Vary Based on the Disease We would love for all individuals to receive their just compensation for harm done at Camp Lejeune. But, due to the complexities of our legal system, your claim will be easier and pay out more if you have been affected by certain specific diseases. These have been scientifically demonstrated with a high level of evidence to be directly connected to Camp Lejeune’s water. The most evidence, and highest payouts have come from: Kidney, Liver, and Bladder Cancers, Parkinson’s Disease, and various Birth Defects.²

You Must Have Been Exposed for 30 Days

The wording of the law further specifies that only individuals who were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s water for a total of at least 30 days are eligible for compensation. Further, all 30 of those days must have occurred in the specified time period of August 1, 1953 – December 31, 1987.² Every case is different, and you may still be able to claim compensation if you or your loved one doesn’t meet some of these strict requirements. However, to be eligible to sue under this new law specifically, you must meet the legal requirements.

Where is the V.A. in All of This?

One question you may be asking in all of this is, what about the Department of Veteran’s Affairs? Aren’t they supposed to be heavily involved in this sort of thing? Are they offering any compensation for exposed veterans? The answer is, yes they are, but pursuing action through them may not be your best option. The disability benefits that the VA are offering have even more specific and strict requirements, and they are only available to veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who were exposed to the water. Furthermore, only those suffering from a much more specific list of diseases are eligible for these benefits.³

What You Need to File a Claim

As we said before, each individual claim is going to be different, and will vary based on a large number of factors. The best claims will be the ones backed up by the most evidence, so to ensure that you are justly compensated you will want to provide:

• -Evidence tying you or a family member to Camp Lejeune, preferably proving exposure to the water
• -Evidence placing you or this family member on base from August 1, 1953 – December 31, 1987
• -An official diagnosis from a medical professional of a disease which can be caused by the chemicals found in Camp Lejeune’s water, especially one with a high level of connection to these chemicals.
• -Evidence demonstrating the financial, mental, and emotional impact that this disease has had, whether on your life or a loved one’s

All these will help solidify your claim, but lack of any of them will not prevent you from making one. The best thing for you to do will be to check with a reputable law firm or claims specialist to determine the strength of your case, and the level of compensation you might be due. Works Cited: 1.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2192#:~:text=This%20bill%20allows%20certain%20individuals,for%20at%20least%2030%20days. 2. https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/camp-lejeune-symptoms.html 3. https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/ 4. https://www.sokolovelaw.com/blog/camp-lejeune-lawsuits-vs-va-benefits/