Camp Lejeune Lawyers

Thousands of military service members and their families lived and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for decades, unknowingly drinking and bathing in water polluted with toxic chemicals. The contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune have since been identified as carcinogens and other harmful agents that can cause miscarriages, congenital health problems, and other serious medical issues.

In recent months, the federal government has taken action to expand access to benefits and care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to veterans and military families. To learn more about the new legislative changes and how they impact toxic exposure victims stationed at Camp Lejeune, contact Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, for a free consultation.

What Caused the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?

Camp Lejeune was established as a Marine Corps training camp in 1942. When Navy engineers designed the camp, they chose a nearby aquifer as the water source. Unfortunately, this aquifer was polluted almost immediately by military operations. Benzene, cleaning solvents, lead, and battery acid were just a few substances the military dumped into its water.

Most contaminants that infiltrated Camp Lejeune’s water supply were tasteless and odorless. Because of this, officials did not detect the water contamination until 1982 — 40 years after the camp opened. After the harmful contaminants were found, the poisoned water source was shut down and designated as a hazardous waste site a few years later.

Health Effects of Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

Many of the chemicals present in the water at Camp Lejeune are known toxins or even carcinogens, which are substances known to cause cancer. When people are exposed to these materials, they can develop long-term health conditions, such as:

• Bladder cancer
• Blood disorders
• Breast cancer
• Dementia
• Esophageal cancer
• Hepatic steatosis
• Infertility
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurological conditions
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

What Are the Symptoms of Contaminated Water Illnesses?

If you lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you might have been exposed to harmful chemicals in the water you used for drinking or bathing. You should seek advice from a doctor if you notice any of the following exposure symptoms:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Unconsciousness
• Vomiting

What Is the Latest News with the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Beginning in the 1990s, the federal government started identifying those who may have suffered from exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. When many veterans and their families learned of their vulnerability, a grassroots movement began to hold the military accountable and demand compensation for victims.

Unfortunately, their pursuit of justice hit many obstacles. Almost immediately, top officials at the Navy and the Pentagon reportedly refused to take responsibility for the contamination and obstructed all efforts by victims seeking reimbursement for subsequent health expenses.

For several decades after researchers first confirmed the health risks of the contamination at Camp Lejeune, victims were still barred from seeking compensation for their losses. However, there has been a recent update on the Camp Lejeune lawsuits. A new veteran benefits bill recently passed by the House eliminates many barriers preventing Camp Lejeune contamination victims from claiming compensation in federal court.

Earlier this summer, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was incorporated into a broader legislative package seeking to provide health coverage to veterans who suffered from toxic exposure. The Senate also voted 86-11 pass the bill, which President Joe Biden has now signed into law.

What Is the PACT Act?

The “Honoring Our PACT Act” is a historic bipartisan law expanding healthcare access for veterans and military families that suffered from toxic exposure. The White House called the bill “the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years.”

The PACT Act includes the following changes:

• Expanding and extending eligibility windows for veterans filing claims
• Adding more than 20 presumptive conditions related to toxic exposure
• Adding presumptive exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
• Requiring the VA to provide all VA-enrolled veterans with poisonous exposure screenings
• Improving VA research, staff education, and treatment for toxic exposure

What Are My Legal Options If I Was Stationed at Camp Lejeune?

If you are a veteran, reservist, or guardsman who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, you could be entitled to VA disability benefits if you meet each of the following requirements:

• You were at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987.
• You were not dishonorably discharged from your military service.
• You have been diagnosed with one or more presumptive conditions, including adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or Parkinson’s disease.

A knowledgeable Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney can determine your eligibility for benefits. They can help you secure evidence and pursue a claim for benefits with the VA or through a lawsuit if needed.

What Are the Possible Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits?

If your Camp Lejeune claim is approved, you could be entitled to a payout with compensation for the following types of losses:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential
• Disability
• Lost quality of life
• Pain and suffering

Contact Our Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers Today

If you or your loved one served in the military, you have worked hard and sacrificed to protect our nation. You deserve the same loyalty in return. At Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our lawyers will work tirelessly on your behalf to demand the compensation and accountability you are owed. Contact our office to discuss the details of your Camp Lejeune toxic exposure case in a free consultation.