Eligibility to file a claim or lawsuit as a Camp Lejeune toxic exposure victim
One of the most severely contaminated sites at Camp Lejeune was the Tarawa Terrace military housing area, where toxic chemicals improperly disposed of by ABC One-Hour Cleaners, a dry-cleaning firm, were lurking.
Furthermore, Hadnot Point was contaminated with dangerous chemicals from multiple sources, such as leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and leakage from a toxic waste dump.
According to researchers, the level of toxic chemicals polluting the environment of Camp Lejeune was between 240 and 3,400 times higher than the safe limit. Over 1 million military personnel and their family members were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, numerous of whom came to struggle with terrible health problems as a result of toxic exposure. Below are the eligibility criteria for veterans and the family members stationed with them at this military base.
We strongly encourage veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who have been stationed at Camp Lejeune and subsequently developed a health problem to contact our specialized attorneys. They will help you file an injury claim and a VA claim so that you can receive the maximum financial compensation you are entitled to, as well as VA benefits such as free or affordable healthcare. However, to qualify for filing a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, you must meet the following eligibility criteria as a former military member:
- you must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
- you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at Camp Lejeune during that period
- you must have one of the diagnoses on this page or one of the presumptive diagnoses below
- you must retrieve your military records and your medical records, which will serve as evidence
- you must not have received a dishonorable discharge from the military
At the moment, roughly 38,769 family members of military personnel live at Camp Lejeune. We know that money cannot offer a cure for the serious, often life-threatening health problems these people came to struggle with as a result of toxic exposure. Still, we advise family members to take legal action, too, as the financial compensation they can receive will make access to quality healthcare and treatment significantly easier. These are the eligibility criteria they must meet to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or a VA claim:
- you must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
- you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at Camp Lejeune during that period
- you must have one of the diagnoses on this page or one of the presumptive diagnoses below
- you must retrieve your medical records, which must clearly explain the link between your diagnosis and toxic exposure
- you must provide us with proof of having lived at Camp Lejeune, such as utility bills, base housing records, military orders, or tax forms
- you must send our attorneys a document proving your relationship to the veteran whom you were stationed with, such as a marriage license, birth certificate, or adoption papers
The following are the presumptive diagnoses for which you can file a claim or lawsuit, either as a former military member or the family member of one:
Toxic agents that were present at Camp Lejeune
The dangerous chemicals which ended up in the body of soldiers and their family members at Camp Lejeune mostly stem from degreasers, oil, industrial waste, radioactive chemicals, and solvents. Volatile organic compounds are the chemicals that caused the contamination. There were two main volatile organic compounds initially detected at Camp Lejeune: a dry cleaning solvent and a degreaser.
Nevertheless, later studies found that there were up to 70 chemicals that can lead to serious health problems. If you ingested these toxic agents, you have a high risk of developing a serious disease as a consequence of exposure. Recent medical studies found a direct causal relation between exposure to these chemicals and multiple types of cancer. The following dangerous chemicals were present at Camp Lejeune during the last century:
- trichloroethylene (TCE)
- perchloroethylene (PCE)
- vinyl chloride
- benzene
- halogenated hydrocarbons
- trihalomethanes
- PFOA
- PFOS
Exposure to all of the above toxic agents can lead to the development of terrible health issues over the years, as once they enter the body, they remain there, gradually damaging the organs they attach themselves to. Two of eight areas at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina were contaminated with volatile organic compounds from 1957 through 1987. Furthermore, in September 2012, 12 pounds of mercury were found at the Hadnot Point Plant at Camp Lejeune. The water plant was offline for several weeks to clean up the mercury.
Diseases you can develop following toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune & estimated treatment costs
Because the chemicals at Camp Lejeune are highly toxic to the human body, people who were exposed are now at great risk of developing a serious, even fatal disease as a result of exposure.
If you notice a new onset of symptoms and were stationed at Camp Lejeune as a soldier or as a family member, please seek medical attention immediately, as you may have already developed a disease.
The following are the diseases and health issues associated with exposure to the toxic agents present at Camp Lejeune. Keep in mind that these are estimated costs, and thereby, you may have to pay more or less, depending on factors such as the severity of your disease. The list contains the presumptive diagnoses and other possible afflictions as well:
- bladder cancer - $65,158 per month
- reproductive health problems - $30,000
- kidney cancer - $18,813 per month
- adult leukemia - $25,531 per month
- lung cancer - $3,565 per month
- prostate cancer - $2,800 per month
- multiple myeloma - $4,477 per month
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma - $10,970 per month
- liver cancer - $28,000 per month
- birth defects - $80,872
- ovarian cancer - $93,000 per month
- aplastic anemia - $30,000
- myelodysplastic syndromes - $17,361
- Parkinson’s disease - $12,491 per year
- breast cancer (male and female) - $70,000 per month
- esophageal cancer - $9,263 per month
- appendix cancer - $33,000 for removal
- brain cancer - up to $700,000 for lifetime care
- bile duct cancer - $7,743 per month
- colorectal/intestinal cancer - up to $80,000
- gallbladder cancer - $10,000 per month
- pancreatic cancer - $8,000 per month
- sinus cancer - up to $5,000 per month
- soft tissue sarcoma - $100,000
- spinal cancer - $52,083
- thyroid cancer - up to $40,000 for surgery
- female infertility - $19,690 per session
- fatty liver disease - $2,575 per month
- miscarriage - $15,000
- neurobehavioral effects - $27,000 per month
- renal toxicity - $4,357 per month
- scleroderma - $191,107 per month
- cognitive disability - $6,499 per year
- congenital malformation (microcephaly)- $10 million for lifetime care
- conjoined twins - up to $1 million for surgery
- autoimmune disease - $28,750 per year
- cyst/tumor/polyp - $2,075/$11,755/$2,038
- other cancers
- other medical issues
When it comes to cancer, misdiagnosis is very common, as the symptoms of the disease often resemble the signs of more common and less serious health problems. For this reason, we strongly advise you to seek a second opinion from a medical specialist, as you may have received a wrong diagnosis. Not only will a correct diagnosis qualify you for recovering compensation by filing a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or lawsuit, but it will also help you receive timely and appropriate treatment for your health problem.
Testimonials of people who developed serious diseases as a consequence of staying at Camp Lejeune
Since over 1 million people and their family members were exposed to the toxic agents present at Camp Lejeune over a period of 30 years, numerous of these individuals sought financial compensation for the awful, even life-threatening diseases they came to struggle with, including from our law firm. The following are only some of the cases our skillful attorneys have pursued so far to recover fair compensation for veterans and their family members.