Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

What it is

If you or your family lived or worked at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River while the water was contaminated, VA presumes the exposure. That means you do not have to prove the water made you sick for eight conditions. Separately, VA covers health care with no copays for 15 conditions, for Veterans and for family members.

Who qualifies for disability compensation

• At least 30 days, in a row or added up, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, North Carolina, between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
• Not a dishonorable discharge.
• One of the eight presumptive conditions: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease.

The rule is 38 CFR 3.309(f), with exposure defined in 38 CFR 3.307(a)(7). VA presumes exposure unless there is affirmative evidence you were not exposed.

Health care with no copays

Veterans who meet the service requirements can enroll in VA health care. VA lists these 15 conditions as covered with zero copays: bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, kidney cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, renal toxicity, scleroderma.

Family members

A child, spouse or legal dependent qualifies if they lived at the location 30 or more days in the eligibility period, or were in utero while the mother lived there. The same 15 conditions apply. VA says to mail or fax:

• VA Form 10-10068 (application)
• VA Form 10-10068a (claim form, one per claim)
• VA Form 10-10068b (optional treating physician report)

Mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Financial Services Center, PO Box 149200, Austin, TX 78714-9200. Evidence VA asks for: proof of relationship (marriage license, birth certificate, adoption papers), proof of residence (utility bills, base housing records, military orders, tax forms), medical records showing the diagnosis and treatment dates, and itemized billing from the provider.

How to file, step by step

1. Veterans, disability: file a claim online, by mail, in person or with help. Say you are applying for a Camp Lejeune presumptive condition.
2. Send military records showing 30 or more days at the base in the dates above, plus medical records showing the condition.
3. Veterans, health care: apply for VA health care.
4. Family: send the forms above to the Financial Services Center.

Traps

• VA says it has no connection to the TV commercials or the law firms advertising Camp Lejeune help. Report suspected fraud to the VA Inspector General at 800-488-8244 or vaoighotline@va.gov.
• Filing a Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim does not affect your VA benefits eligibility. Questions on that go to the Department of Justice at 202-353-4426.
• The eight disability conditions and the 15 health care conditions are different lists. Check both.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

• Camp Lejeune Family Member Program: 866-372-1144 (TTY: 711), 8:30 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. ET. Source: VA Camp Lejeune page; the number also appears on VA Community Care: CLFMP
• VA benefits hotline, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET: 1-800-827-1000 (TTY: 711). Source: va.gov/contact-us (hours) and VA VBA contact page (number)

Official pages

• Camp Lejeune water contamination, VA
• How to file a disability claim
• Apply for VA health care (loads with JavaScript)
• Camp Lejeune Family Member Program

Free accredited help

• Find an accredited representative (attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization representative)

See also: Presumptive conditions by era for the other presumptions.