Presumptive Conditions for Camp Lejeune’s Toxic Water

During their tenure in the military, service personnel may confront a variety of threats. Most people envision physical wounds when soldiers are injured and need to file for compensation. However, serious diseases caused by chemical exposure might result in disability.

Many marines suffer from different severe ailments. Camp Lejeune and the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in New River, North Carolina, both have problems with contaminated drinking water. As a result, many former military personnel suffer from presumed conditions.

What Toxins Were Discovered in Camp Lejeune’s Water Supply?

In 1982, the marine corps detected the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. However, water supply pollution began in 1953 and persisted until 1987. It is believed that millions of camp staff, active duty service members, and their loved ones were vulnerable to the contaminated water supply during that period.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), most of the contaminated wells at Camp Lejeune were destroyed in 1985.

The following toxins were discovered in the Camp Lejeune water system:

• Benzene is a chemical used to generate resins, plastics, nylon, and synthetic textiles.
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a dry cleaning and metal degreasing solvent.
• Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a solvent used to clean metal parts.
• Vinyl chloride (VC) is a bi-product of TCE and PCE in groundwater that accumulates over time.
• TCE, VC, and Benzene are all classed as carcinogenic substances. TCE has been identified as a possible carcinogen. In addition to cancer, exposure to these chemicals can result in birth deformities and other serious health issues.

What Exactly Is a Presumed Condition?

A presumptive condition is a chronic sickness diagnosis received by a veteran on active duty. The Department of Veteran Affairs believes that a person’s serving in the military caused the condition. Arthritis and Type 2 diabetes are two common instances. As compensation, a service member may claim non-taxable compensation.

POWs and veterans of certain conflicts, for example, can seek VA disability compensation. People who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS may be eligible.

A service member must acquire a diagnosis no earlier than a year after leaving active duty for a disease to be presumed. Furthermore, certain categories of ex-service veterans may be eligible for presumed disease benefits.

Lejeune Marine Corps Base Presumptive Water Contamination Conditions

Camp Lejeune drinking water presumptive conditions may emerge weeks or months after being exposed to polluted water. An investigation discovered a relationship to several medical disorders. The Department of Veteran Affairs, on the other hand, classified eight of them as presumptive.

To be eligible for disability compensation, a person must have:

• Leukemia in adults. Adult leukemia is a potentially fatal disease. Treatment can become time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, severe symptoms decrease an individual’s quality of life.
• Cancer of the liver. Liver cancer is classified as a disability by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The disease impairs the organ’s ability to function properly, which the body requires. There is a grading system for VA benefits, and liver cancer varies from 10% to 100%.
• Cancer of the bladder. Substances in the water system may have caused a few types of bladder cancer. Someone may suffer from pain and suffering as a result of uncomfortable urination and back discomfort. A person’s treatment may necessitate hundreds of dollars in surgery or chemotherapy.
• Aplastic anemia. While it is uncommon, a person may get the condition with sufficient exposure. Because the illness impacts the body’s ability to produce red blood cells, the government provides benefits.

Who Is Entitled to File a Lawsuit?

People who reside on the base are one group that can pursue a Camp Lejeune water pollution case. Service men and their families are among the locals. Furthermore, their stay shall not be fewer than 30 days from August 1953 to December 1987.

Workers on the outpost for at least 1 month are also eligible. Civilians are among the workers. The government might have employed contractors who were ill while doing their tasks.