If you suffered lung cancer after exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you might be eligible to take legal action against the U.S. government to seek reparations for your losses. From 1953 to 1987, many service members who resided at Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated tap water, which later resulted in severe health conditions, including lung cancer.
If you developed lung cancer after your exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can be your legal advocate. We seek to represent veterans and their families who can benefit from filing a VA disability claim or Camp Lejeune lung cancer lawsuit. We want to help you secure the compensation you deserve for the physical, emotional, and economic losses you’ve suffered to help you rebuild your way of life.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Contribute to Your Lung Cancer?
Thousands of former residents of Camp Lejeune have alleged that contaminated water at the base caused them to develop various cancers and other severe diseases later in life, including lung cancer. The chemicals were introduced into the water by a nearby dry-cleaning company, and their presence and inherent dangers were unknown to residents at the time.
When the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) investigated these claims, findings confirmed that at least one potentially toxic chemical “…exceeded its current EPA maximum contaminant level in drinking water during August 1953 and January 1985.”
The Link Between the Water Contamination and Lung Cancer
Many of the potentially carcinogenic toxins discovered in Camp Lejeune’s water supply were synthetic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These included perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride—all of which have been scientifically linked to the development of many cancers, such as lung cancer, as well as other diseases.
For example, a 2016 Minnesota Department of Health report warned that vinyl chloride over an individual’s lifetime could increase their risk of developing lung cancer. Also, a 2014 ICARE study found that PCE might be a lung cancer risk factor.
Although evidence of a higher risk of lung cancer associated with TCE exposure is limited, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), animal research has found an increase in lung tumors among rats and mice orally exposed to TCE.
Did Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Contribute to Your Lung Cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), tobacco smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and contributes to about 80% of deaths. Although smoking is the most significant risk for lung cancer, it is not the only one. Not all people who develop lung cancer have smoked.
The ACS also states that people who don’t smoke and still develop lung cancer may have been exposed to radon, asbestos, and “certain other chemicals.” Some of these carcinogens that may increase the risk of lung cancer can be found in the workplace, such as uranium, diesel exhaust, and inhaled chemicals such as vinyl chloride, among others.
The studies mentioned above and other research support claims that water at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 was contaminated by chemicals known to be cancer-causing toxins. Although this harmful exposure may not be the only factor contributing to your development of lung cancer, according to new legislation, it may be significant enough to warrant a lawsuit and entitle you to receive compensation.
Who Can file a Camp LeJeune Lawsuit?
Previously, the Navy rejected many Camp Lejeune water contamination claims brought against them. Fortunately, new legislation permits victims to sue and not be subject to the general rule that the U.S. government should not be held responsible for injuries to service members. Those eligible will generally have two years from the law’s enactment date to file a lawsuit.
In June 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of June 2022. When enacted into law, the Act will allow former Camp Lejeune residents, including service members and their families, to seek legal reparation from the U.S. government for severe health conditions they suffered due to water contamination.
To file a lawsuit against Camp Lejeune, you must meet the following criteria:
- You resided, worked, or were otherwise exposed to the water supply at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more.
- Your exposure occurred between 1953 and 1987.
- You’ve been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Cancer of the bladder, breast, esophagus, kidney, liver, lung, and nervous system
- Other cancers: leukemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Cardiac congenital disabilities
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease)
- Miscarriage
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Parkinson’s disease
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
Camp Lejeune victims awarded compensation in a lawsuit may recover losses including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical and mental pain and suffering, disability, loss of consortium, and more.
Filing a Claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs
In 2017, the VA specified certain diseases assumed to be associated with water contamination at Camp Lejeune between 1953 to 1987 that would qualify for VA disability benefits. Service members must have been exposed for no fewer than 30 days to be eligible. Although lung cancer is not among these due to insufficient evidence, it is still a health condition that can qualify for other VA healthcare benefits.
See the VA website for more information on qualifying health conditions and applying for VA healthcare benefits if you are a veteran or a family member who resided at Camp Lejeune.
Start Working on Your Camp Lejeune Case with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Today
Attorney Ben Crump works tirelessly to help regular individuals who’ve suffered harm due to another person’s or party’s negligence. You should not have to pay medical bills and other losses for a severe illness caused by an environmental hazard that the U.S. military should have prevented. We will help you seek the restitution you’re entitled to collect, and we won’t stop fighting for your desired outcome.
For more information about filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today. In a free and confidential consultation, we can review your legal rights and options, file a lawsuit on your behalf, and get started pursuing the compensation and justice you deserve.
