If you are a veteran who served at Camp Lejeune from August 1953 through December 1987, you may qualify for disability and health care benefits. Additionally, your family members who lived on base may also receive medical coverage for 15 eligible illnesses. Our Camp Lejeune water contamination benefits guide can teach you more about available assistance and how to apply:
Veterans’ Disability Benefits
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), two water wells at Camp Lejeune contained harmful compounds, including:
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
The military closed the wells in 1985, but from the early 1950s to the late 1980s, thousands of active-duty service members, Reservists, Guardsmen, and their families suffered exposure to contaminated drinking water.
Because of the known presence of contaminants and their link to certain cancers and illnesses, the VA presumes you qualify for disability benefits if you served at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period and have one of eight illnesses:
- Liver, kidney, or bladder cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Learn more: Camp Lejeune water contamination health issues
How do You Apply?
You can file a Camp Lejeune water contamination benefits application online at VA.gov or through an accredited representative or regional VA office. When you apply, you will need to submit documentation proving:
- You served at Camp Lejeune for 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987
- Medical records showing you have one of the eight presumptive conditions
An attorney with our firm can gather necessary evidence, review your application, and file your claim. We can also help you seek disability if you have a contamination-related illness that is not one of the eight presumptive conditions. You may still qualify for disability, but we need to supply additional evidence linking your illness to your service record.
How Much Are Monthly Payments?
The VA calculates disability payments based on your disability rating and the number of dependents you support. According to the 2022 Veterans disability compensation rates, payments can range from around $150 per month for a veteran with a 10 percent disability rating and no dependents to nearly $4,000 for a veteran with a 100 percent rating and multiple dependents.
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Health Care Benefits
If you or your family members suffer from a Camp Lejeune water contamination illness, you can apply for health care coverage. Coverage automatically applies to Veterans with one of the eight presumptive conditions. In addition, family members and Veterans can apply for coverage if they lived on base during the contamination period and have one of the following 15 conditions:
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Esophageal cancer
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Miscarriage
- Hepatic steatosis
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Scleroderma
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
Benefits cover all health care costs free of charge. Recipients with a qualifying Camp Lejeune condition do not pay premiums or copays.
Health Care Reimbursement
According to the VA, family members who have one of the 15 qualifying conditions can also seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses related to their illness. Reimbursement covers costs not paid by insurance for treatment received up to two years before you apply for benefits. When you apply, you will need to provide evidence that:
- You have a legal dependent relationship with a Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, including a birth certificate, adoption papers, or marriage license
- You lived on base for 30 or more days between August 1953 and December 1987, including copies of military orders or base housing records
- You paid medical expenses for a covered condition or illness
Appealing Denied Benefits
If you applied for Camp Lejeune water contamination benefits and the VA denied your claim, you can appeal the decision. We can look into the reason for the denial and collect new evidence (if available) for a supplemental claim. If we believe the denial was in error, we can file for a higher-level review or Board of Veterans’ Appeals hearing.
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You May Be Eligible for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
You may be eligible to seek benefits and compensation via legal action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is currently working through Congress. Once passed, you will have two years to file a case or 180 days from notice of a claim denial. Under this law, we may be able to help you recover:
- Past illness-related medical expenses
- Future health care costs
- Lost income, benefits, and earnings
- Future loss of income
- Compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one
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Reach out to Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to Learn More About Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Benefits
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, for a free case evaluation. A member of our team can answer your questions and tell you more about the options for seeking compensation outlined in our Camp Lejeune water contamination benefits guide.
Call or text (888) 796-6660 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form