Who Is Eligible To File A Camp Lejeune Claim?
Much of the emphasis of the Camp Lejeune water contamination case focuses on military members, primarily the US Marine Corps service personnel. You may wonder if you are eligible to file a Camp Lejeune claim. The truth is that civilians affiliated with Camp Lejeune were also exposed by the contaminated water at the same time. For years, dependents and civilian workers who were exposed to the toxic water had no options. But with the signing of the Camp Lejeune act, those civilians now have legal recourse.
The crux of any case depends on the individual who was at Camp Lejeune, whether they were stationed there, worked there, or lived there, between August 1st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987. Civilian workers, family members of veterans, contractors, and even children of veterans who were exposed in the womb during their mother’s pregnancy may be eligible to file a claim.
Who Can File
The first qualification is that you must have been at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or longer, during the time of contamination. Whether you were military, a dependent, or a civilian worker, is irrelevant.
To file a claim, you will need to show:
• That you have a severe diagnosed condition that qualifies you to file a claim
• You have records of your medical treatment and documentation of your injuries
• Your condition is linked to the contaminated water based on scientific evidence
Veterans who received a dishonorable discharge are not eligible to file.
The Presumptive Connection
When giving veterans a disability rating, the veteran’s administration uses something called a presumptive service connection for certain conditions. That is because a veteran developed a specific medical condition, it’s presumed that the condition is service-connected. For instance, a veteran who served in a particular area and was exposed to Agent Orange, then later develops bladder or prostate cancer is presumed to have their illness as a direct result of that exposure.
In the case of Camp Lejeune, there is also a presumptive connection based on the consumption of contaminated water. This means that your or your loved one’s medical condition is presumed to have been caused by toxic water exposure.
Proving the presumptive connection requires that you and your loved one were at Camp Lejeune for a combined 30 days between 1953 and 1987 and that you or your loved one suffers from a qualifying medical condition, which includes:
• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer (male and female)
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver disease
• Female infertility
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma
This is just the list of known conditions that resulted from toxic water exposure. Other conditions that can be traced back to the Camp Lejeune water may also be eligible.
Your Loved Ones
You may not be the only one who suffered a medical condition as a result of the water contamination. This can also include someone who is still living, deceased, divorced, an adopted child, a stepchild, or an estranged relative for whom you can file a claim. You can file a claim on behalf of a deceased relative and recover compensation for wrongful death.
Filing a VA disability claim as well as a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is a complicated and overwhelming endeavor. While you can file on your own, you may miss out on a significant amount of compensation, and even risk having your claim denied if you do not have sufficient evidence.
Work with an experienced attorney who understands disability law and can help you with your rightful claim to compensation. Herren Law is happy to discuss your case with you, help determine your eligibility, and work with you to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today
If you served at or worked at Camp Lejeune and are now suffering a chronic illness, you may have a claim under this act. Let us at Herren Law discuss your case with you. For more than 30 years, the Herren Law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefits claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them. We are prepared now to focus on and help with Camp Lejeune claim cases.
If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately. There is a deadline of two years from the date the act was passed (August 2022) to file a claim so do not wait! Find out if you are eligible to file a Camp Lejeune claim.
Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.
