Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water

Contaminated Water

In the 1980s, contaminants were found in several wells that provided drinking water at Camp Lejeune, NC. The contaminants included the volatile organic compounds trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, and other compounds. The primary sources of this contamination were on-base leaking
storage tanks and industrial activities, and an off-base dry cleaner. It is estimated that the contaminants were in the water supply from the mid-1950s until February 1985.

VA Disability Compensation

The VA has established a presumption of service connection for 8 conditions associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply. These conditions were determined after a review of scientific and medical literature on health effects related to the contaminants of concern at Camp Lejeune. The presumption applies to active duty, reserve, and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and who later developed one or more of the following 8 conditions:*

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s Disease

If a veteran is/has been diagnosed with one of these conditions, VA presumes that his/her Camp Lejeune service caused the condition, and disability compensation can be awarded.

*Other disabilities may also be considered for disability compensation but will require a medical opinion linking it to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. See Service Officer for details.

Health Care For Veterans

The Camp Lejeune Act of 2012 provides health care and health care funding assistance to veterans and family members who lived on Camp Lejeune, meet the time-on-station and service date requirements, and have one of the covered conditions.
Qualifying health conditions include:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

Veterans eligible for health care under the Camp Lejeune Act of 2012 may enroll in VA health care and receive medical service for any of the 15 health conditions, and the eight presumptive disability conditions at no cost.

FAMILY MEMBER HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT

Dependent family members of veterans who also resided at Camp Lejeune during the qualifying period are eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses related to any of the 15 covered health conditions. VA can only pay for treatment costs that remain after payment from health plans for care up to two years prior to the date of application for benefits.

CAMP LEJEUNE DISABILITY BENEFIT AREA

• Camp Lejeune Military Reservation
• Camp Geiger
• Camp Johnson/Montford Point
• Holcomb Boulevard
• Marine Corps Air Station New River
• Tarawa Terrace
• Stone Bay Rifle Range
• Camp Lejeune Greater Sandy Run
• Onslow Beach
• Paradise Point
• Hadnot Point

CAMP LEJEUNE HISTORIC DRINKING WATER DATABASE

The Marine Corps maintains an information database for those who may have been
exposed to contaminants in the drinking water between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. To be added to the database, or for more information, please visit https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/clwater/home.aspx. You can also contact the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Call Center at (877) 261-9782 or email [email protected].