Veterans who have served at Camp Lejeune or lived there may be eligible for V.A. compensation. To be eligible, one must meet the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs criteria
- They lived or served at this place for at least 30 consecutive days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
- They have had to suffer from a qualifying condition.
However, the severity of your condition will affect your rating. You must have proof of your service at Camp Lejeune during the designated period, a medical diagnosis of your state, and testimony linking your experience at Camp Lejeune to your situation.
After serving at Camp Lejeune, why are veterans seeking V.A. compensation?
Studies in the 1980s revealed that Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) ‘s drinking water contained Volatile Organic Compounds contaminants. These toxins included:
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Benzene
A dry-cleaning business used the compounds in the vicinity. They leaked into the groundwater. Industrial spillages and waste disposal could also have contributed to the contamination of the groundwater.
These toxins were discovered by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 1982. However, they have not been shut down for three more years. These contaminants may have led to or increased the risk of multiple illnesses in an estimated 1 million people.
How do you qualify for V.A. Compensation for Camp Lejeune?
In 2012, Congress passed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act. This legislation automatically allows veterans and their families to receive certain healthcare benefits.
You must prove that you are eligible for V.A. compensation by providing documentation that you lived or served at Camp Lejeune during the period of August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. Also, you must prove that you are at least one of these qualifying conditions.
- Breast cancer
- Miscarriage
- Lung cancer
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Infertility in females
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicities
- Kidney cancer
- Hepatic Cancer
- Leukemia
- Esophageal cancer
This list of conditions may differ from the one that contains presumptive conditions. Learn more about Camp Lejeune’s health issues.
For benefits, family members must go through a separate process.
You will need to complete VA Form 10-10068b if you or a loved one are seeking compensation for medical expenses.
- You were the legal dependent of a veteran serving at Camp Lejeune. As evidence, a birth certificate or marriage license will suffice.
- Between 1953 and 1987, you lived at Camp Lejeune. The VA accepts records for base housing.
- You paid for medical treatment.
Conditions Presumptive for Those Who served at Camp Lejeune
The VA created a list of eight conditions that were associated with Camp Lejeune’s contaminants. These illnesses can be recovered by those who were on active duty or in reserves at Camp Lejeune or in the National Coast Guard from 1953 to 1987.
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Leukemia in adulthood
- Bladder cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic disorders
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
You don’t need to have a medical opinion if you have one of these presumptive diseases. This is a list of illnesses V.A. has scientifically linked to contaminated water exposure. You may still be eligible for benefits if your condition is not listed.
Schedule for V.A. Disability Ratings
VA will determine the severity of your disability. You will be eligible for more compensation if your condition is more severe than normal. For single veterans, the payment plan was:
- 152.64 for a 10% disability rating
- 20% Disability Rating: $301.74
- A disability rating of 30 percent: $467.39
- A disability rating of 40%: $673.28
- 50% Disability Rating: $958.44
- A disability rating of 60 percent: $1,214.03
- A disability rating of 70%: $1,529.95
- 80 percent Disability Rating: $1,778.43
- A disability rating of 90%: $1,998.52
- A disability rating of 100 percent: $3,332.06
Dependents may be eligible for greater benefits.
Important to remember that not all diseases, such as leukemia, are eligible for 100% ratings if they are active or undergoing treatment. V.A. will monitor your condition as you go through treatment. Your rating may be reduced if your condition improves. This will allow you to get the benefits that you are entitled to.
What happens if V.A. denies your claim for benefits?
You can appeal to V.A. if V.A. denies your claim or gives you a lower rating than you would like. V.A. offers three options for you to go this route.
- Supplemental Claims – You will need to collect additional evidence that supports your disability, which you did not include in your original claim.
- Higher Level Review: This option does not allow you to submit evidence. Instead, a senior reviewer will assess your initial disability claim.
- Board of Appeals A Veterans Law Judge will hear your case. The hearing can be conducted remotely from your home, via videoconference at a V.A. facility in your area, or in person at the Board in Washington, D.C.
It is difficult to work towards maximum V.A. compensation for Camp Lejeune. A VA disability attorney can help you.
The new law allows Camp Lejeune veterans to seek maximum compensation.
On August 10, 2022, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. Qualifying veterans and their families may file a claim for compensation for water-related illnesses. A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer will help you gather evidence and make sure that your claim is approved.
The Justice Now can help you ensure that your lawsuit falls within the statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations runs for two years from when the law was adopted. Do not miss the opportunity to claim compensation for any harm you or your family suffered while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
After Suffering an Illness in Camp Lejeune, Connect with The Justice Now
A lawyer from our firm can assist you in obtaining maximum V.A. disability compensation if you are a veteran, or a dependent family member, who lived at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987.
Contact The Justice Now today to learn more and schedule a consultation.
