In 1941, Marines trained for years at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base established in Jacksonville, NC, without knowing toxic chemicals lurked in the water supply. The truth about the contaminated water has come out recently, revealing a history of negligence and its devastating health effects. This blog post will delve into understanding the impact of Camp Lejeune and the events surrounding it, the legislative actions to address the contamination issue, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, and the ongoing media coverage.
For decades, the water at Camp Lejeune carried toxic, cancer-causing chemicals, such as benzene, vinyl chloride, perchloroethylene (PCE), and trichloroethylene (TCE). It was discovered that exposure to these chemicals led to various severe health conditions, and the following eight are directly traced back to the contamination:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked this contamination to nearby industrial spills, underground storage tanks, and off-base dry-cleaning firms. The most alarming aspect is that the government had knowledge of these toxic chemicals and failed to take appropriate action until years later. A trusted attorney could help affected parties understand how water contamination at Camp Lejeune has impacted them and assist with the legal process.
To address the hazardous conditions resulting from the impact of the contaminated water supply, the Camp Lejeune Presumptive Conditions Bill was passed on March 14, 2017. This bill granted service members who spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between specified timeframes and were diagnosed with any of the eight recorded diseases listed above, entitlement to Veterans Administration (VA) benefits due to a service-connected disability.
Furthermore, on June 16, 2022, the Senate passed the Honoring Our Pact Act, which includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act and seeks to provide support for disability claims with the VA and protect veterans’ rights. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows impacted individuals exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune to file lawsuits seeking compensation for damages, which will simplify the process of filing disability claims with the VA.
To be eligible for VA benefits, one must have resided at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between the designated years of 1953 and 1987. This new act provides hope for veterans filing claims and seeking justice by increasing the VA’s approval rate for claims.
The primary mission of the VA is to support veterans who have experienced physical or mental suffering as a result of their military service. However, winning claims could be challenging, as the VA frequently denies them. If you or a loved one stationed at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with a disease related to toxic water, you may be eligible for service-connected benefits and compensation.
The experienced attorneys at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos, and Newlin could help you understand the impact of Camp Lejeune on your life and assist you in the appeals process. Contact our firm to schedule a consultation.
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