Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Claims. What They Know & When They Knew It

Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Claims

Individuals who resided and/or worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water that can cause cancer and other serious health issues. The dangerous chemicals in the water, including benzene, trichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, are classified as cancer-causing drugs, and tetrachlorethylene is classified as probably carcinogenic. Since 1970, the National Trial Lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz have been helping injury and wrongful death victims.

To date, very few victims have been able to successfully recover damages for the harm they suffered from the contaminated water supply. However, the House of Representatives recently passed the Camp LeJeune Justice Act, which could provide relief and monetary damages to the hundreds of thousands of service members and their families and civilians that were exposed to the toxic water. If the bill passes in the Senate, the Act would allow anyone exposed to the contaminated water for at least 30 days and who suffered from one of the many adverse health conditions linked to the contaminated water to file a claim in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for their injuries.  The Mass Tort Lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA can help. Send us an email to info@gslawusa.com. Contact a Mass Tort Lawyer for help with a contaminated water claims toll free at 877-475-2905.

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Those who sacrifice their own safety and well-being to defend our country deserve to be protected themselves. At Gerson & Schwartz PA, our trial lawyers have been helping injury victims due to the negligent and careless acts of corporations and others for more than 50 years.

If you served at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, for a period of at least 30 uninterrupted days between August of 1953 and December of 1987, you were exposed to contaminated water, and may have developed a debilitating illness as a result.

In fact, if you served during this time and have any of a fairly long list of conditions, it is presumed to have been caused by the exposure, and you are entitled to VA disability benefits and legal remedies as a result. If you believe this may be you, the Miami Mass Tort Lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA can help. Send us an email to info@gslawusa.com.  Or you can call us toll free at 877-475-2905.

What You Need to Know About Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Here is the information that you need to determine whether you are entitled to coverage and compensation. Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Testing of the wells which supplied water to everyone on base revealed that between August 1953 and December 1987, the water contained a number of toxins and chemicals including Trichloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Mercury, Vinyl chloride, and Benzene, among other substances and chemical waste.

The presence of the toxins in the water for a period of over 30 years suggests gross negligence by several different parties. These toxins have been linked to a number of serious conditions, which have afflicted not only service members, civilian employees, reservists, and guardsmen, but also their family members and descendants. It is estimated that over a million people were affected by this contamination, and if you served during this time, it is likely that you are one of them.

What Medical Conditions Does Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Cause?

  • Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
  • Bladder Cance
  • Liver Cancer
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Male Breast Cancer. A CDC  found a causal link between certain contaminants in the water and the occurrence of breast cancer in those exposed.
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Hepatic steatosis
  • Ovarian and Cervical Cancer
  • Female Infertility
  • Miscarriages. Miscarriages were common in women exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

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  • Leukemia. Adult leukemia in those exposed, as well as childhood leukemia in their children have both been linked to chemicals in the contaminated water.
  • Lung Cancer.
  • Mercury Poisoning. The chemicals and toxins found in the Camp Lejeune water wells are incredibly toxic. Over 12 pounds of elemental mercury were found at one of the water treatment sites at Camp Lejeune. More than enough to cause mercury poisoning and symptoms ranging from nausea and headaches to kidney damage.
  • Birth Defects. A study by the CDC found that women who consumed the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune were 4 times more likely to give birth to children with birth defects. One of the most common birth defects suffered was spina bifida and spinal disfigurement. The study also found that infants born to these mothers were more likely to develop leukemia and other cancers during childhood.
  • Multiple Myeloma.
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
  • Neurobehavioral Issues.
  • Aplastic anemia.
  • Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Scleroderma.
  • Renal failure and renal toxicity.

Do You Have Disability Benefits Claim for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?Despite this contamination having been ongoing for over 30 years, the government just passed a new legislative act to address the wrongful harm. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is meant to ensure that everyone who suffered harm as a result of the toxic water contamination has grounds to bring a claim and receive benefits and compensation. In order to receive VA benefits and compensation for any resulting conditions, you must be able to prove that you served at Camp Lejeune for an uninterrupted period of at least 30 days at some point between August 1953 and December 1987.

You must also be able to provide documentation showing that you or a family member have one of the covered conditions. Finally, you must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military. If you are unsure whether you meet the criteria to file a claim, talking to a personal injury lawyer attorneys for Camp Lejeune victims can help you understand your legal options and remedies.

Presumptive Conditions for Disability BenefitsAlthough the water contamination at Camp Lejeune has been linked to dozens of health conditions at this point, the VA has a shorter list of conditions that they will automatically presume were caused by the water contamination without any further review or consideration, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements. These conditions that will allow for automatic coverage, benefits, and compensation, include:

  • Leukemia (developed in adulthood by the exposed person).
  • Cancer of the bladder, kidneys, or liver.
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes, including aplastic anemia.
  • Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Multiple myeloma.
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Again, VA disability coverage is not limited to these conditions. You can still receive benefits and compensation for approximately 15 other conditions, however, the connection will not automatically be assumed and will require review. The conditions above entitle you to automatic disability coverage.

What Disability Benefits Does a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim Entitle Me to?If you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, you were exposed to water containing toxic substances at Camp Lejeune and may have developed a disabling condition, such as various forms of cancer, as a result. If the VA approves your claim, you will be entitled to healthcare and compensation for the health defects or medical conditions that you suffered. The compensation is intended to reimburse you for costs related to medical treatment for the conditions caused by water toxicity.

How Do I Get Disability Benefits for These Conditions? Call 1-877-475-2905If you meet the eligibility criteria for VA benefits coverage, you can file a claim online or in person at the VA. You will be required to provide documentation showing that you served at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 for at least 30 days and that you were not dishonorably discharged from the military. This may take the form of service orders, an enlistment record, or a housing agreement or lease. You will also need to provide documentation of one of the presumptive conditions that is covered. This can be in the form of medical records. You can file the claim yourself or with the assistance of an attorney. If you have one of the fifteen non-presumptive conditions you can file a claim by completing the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program Treating Physician Report, also known as VA Form 10-10068b. You will have to submit a medical record or proof of the date of diagnosis as well as records of any treatments that were done as a result. A lawyer at Gerson & Schwartz can provide guidance in how best to complete and submit your claim.

Can My Family Members Get Disability Benefits?Family members of Camp Lejeune Service Members, including both those who lived with them on base, and those who were born to them, are eligible for compensation and disability benefits from the VA. In order to qualify they must show that they are related to or lived with a servicemember who served at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 for a

period of at least 30 consecutive days. This can take the form of a birth certificate or other documentation.

You may also be able to show proof that you resided at Camp Lejeune, such as a housing agreement or lease. You will then have to complete the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program Treating Physician Report, (VA Form 10-10068b). This will require medical; documentation of the date you were diagnosed with one of the eligible conditions, as well as medical records showing any treatment that was done to treat the condition, as well as any treatment that is ongoing. For help filling out the form, contact us at info@gslawusa.com.

Can I Sue for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?

Yes. In addition to having grounds on which to gain compensation and disability benefits from the government, victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination have the ability to bring a personal injury lawsuit or join a mass tort action against those liable for the ongoing contamination. Many soldiers have testified that they complained about the water and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, vision problems, and metallic taste, which went ignored by military officials. It is believed that military officials actively worked to conceal the water toxicity issues and failed to warn soldiers or take action to remedy the issue.

It has also been alleged that the two water plants responsible for supplying water containing chemical substances and waste were aware that the water was contaminated and failed to take action to fix it. This makes these parties liable for the harm that resulted. Their actions to conceal and their failure to warn constitutes a breach of the reasonable duty of care owed to everyone on that base, and many of those people have been suffering generations of medical problems and birth defects as a result. This means that they are liable for this harm, and can be held legally and financially accountable.

If you worked or lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days straight during the 30+ year of contamination, you, your family members, and your children, may have suffered any number of medical issues and health problems, and you deserve to be made financially whole and to hold the responsible parties accountable in court.

Why You Need a Lawyer to Bring a Legal ClaimIf you served at Camp Lejeune and have developed a disabling condition as a result, you are entitled to compensation and support. While you have the right to file a disability claim or bring a personal injury lawsuit on your own, it is time you had someone else do the fighting. This is not your burden to bear, and the fact of the matter is that our lawyers are very good at doing this. There is no point in slogging through paperwork and making avoidable and costly errors, when our lawyers can make this process as painless and efficient as possible for you. The mass tort lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA are experienced in getting large settlements for victims of mass torts and we take great pride in our ability to represent veterans and get them the support and compensation that they are entitled to. Talk to our lawyers today and find out how easy it is to get the benefits you deserve.

Contact Gerson & Schwartz PA and Schedule a Consultation Today If you are a veteran, you put your life on the line to defend our country. Now, our mass tort trial lawyers want to help you and hold the parties responsible for causing you and your family harm financially accountable. Contact Gerson & Schwartz PA today and schedule your free case consultation.

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