Which toxic agents 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 which 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
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. Thereby, if you are a veteran or have a family member who was present on Camp Lejeune between 1952 and 1987, we strongly advise you to file a claim, as not only will you recover the compensation you deserve, but will also hold the responsible party accountable for their negligent actions. 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.
What diseases can you develop following toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune?
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, we can apply for injury fund claims and additionally, also VA claims:
- bladder cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as cystitis, prostate infection, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, bladder papilloma, overactive bladder, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and kidney infection)
- breast cancer (male and female)(commonly misdiagnosed as fibroadenomas, blocked milk duct, breast cysts, fibrocystic breast disease, lipomas, fibroids, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia)
- reproductive disorders (commonly misdiagnosed as pregnancy, infertility, and cancer)
- kidney cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as urine infection, cystitis, kidney stones, respiratory problems, renal toxicity, kidney disease, kidney failure, and renal cell carcinoma)
- leukemia (commonly misdiagnosed as immune thrombocytopenic purpura, influenza, bleeding disorders, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, aplastic anemia, mononucleosis, thrombocytosis, myelodysplastic syndromes, and chronic lymphoproliferative illness)
- lung-cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, lung abscess, lung nodules, acid reflux, pneumonia, pleural effusion, tuberculosis, pleural plaques, lymphoma, and pulmonary embolism)
- prostate cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as overactive bladder, prostatitis, and prostate enlargement)
- cervical cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis)
- multiple myeloma (commonly misdiagnosed as kidney damage, neurological symptoms, hypercalcemia, amyloidosis, bone pain, and anemia)
- non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (commonly misdiagnosed as indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disease of the gastrointestinal tract, costochondritis, ovarian cysts, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, and gastroenteritis)
- liver cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as cirrhosis, gastroenteritis, influenza, gallstones, alveolar hydatid disease, fatty liver, hepatic hemangioma, liver abscess, mosses syndrome, and pancreatic cancer)
- birth defects (commonly misdiagnosed as diabetes, sexually transmitted infections, anemia, preeclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages)
- ovarian cancer (commonly misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian cyst, urinary tract infection, changing menopausal status, and diverticulitis)
- 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, but it will also help you receive timely and appropriate treatment for your health problem.
What documents are necessary to apply for compensation?
While veterans only need to provide their attorney with their military records which state that they were stationed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1957 and 1987 and that they were not dishonorably discharged, as well as with their medical records, their family members who were accompanying veterans and who lived on the base must send additional documents if they decide to seek financial compensation, including the following:
- a document stating your relationship to the veteran who served on active duty for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune, such as a marriage license, a birth certificate, or adoption papers
- a document proving that you lived at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days from August 1953 through December 1987, such as utility bills, base housing records, military orders, or tax forms
- medical records showing you have one of the 15 conditions listed above, as well as the date the health problem was diagnosed and that you are being treated or have been treated in the past for this health problem
In addition to these documents, family members must also provide evidence of payment which was made between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, or between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956. It is worthy of note that only if you developed the following diseases you can qualify for compensation, as the rest of the above diseases are presumptive and thereby there is no definitive causal relation between those and exposure to the toxic agents at Camp Lejeune:
Treatment costs estimated for toxic exposure diseases from Camp Lejeune
The compensation our attorneys will help you obtain will also cover the costs of your healthcare and treatment. This is another reason why we strongly encourage you to file a claim if you developed a disease as a result of diseases that emerged from toxic exposure 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.
- bladder cancer: $65,158 per month
- female infertility: $19,690 per session
- leukemia: $25,531 per month
- multiple myeloma: $4,477 per month
- lymphoma: $14,174 per month
- liver cancer: $28,000 per month
- breast cancer: $70,000 per month
- hepatic steatosis: $2,575 per month
- lung cancer: $3,565 per month
- myelodysplastic syndromes: $17,361
- renal toxicity: $4,357 per month
- birth defects: $1.5 billion
- esophageal cancer: $9,263 per month
- kidney cancer: $18,813 per month
- miscarriage: $15,000
- neurobehavioral effects: $27,000 per month
- scleroderma: $191,107 per month
- ovarian cancer: $93,000 per month
Testimonials of people who developed serious diseases as a consequence of staying at Camp Lejeune
Since over 900,000 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.
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