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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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