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Those who were exposed to toxins while serving have legal rights
People who serve in the armed forces deserve our respect, and so do the families who support them. At the most basic level, that means ensuring a safe environment in military facilities. Unfortunately, our country failed to meet that responsibility at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
It has come to light that between 1953 and 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated. As a result, service members and their families drank and bathed in water that contained deadly chemicals. Some of the tragic consequences were immediate – including stillbirths – while others took years to emerge.
In either case, members of the military who served at Camp Lejeune have legal recourse, and the attorneys at Brent Adams & Associates can help.
How to qualify for disability benefits from Camp Lejeune
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 can qualify for benefits if they were diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
These benefits may include health care and other compensation payments. In addition, for both veterans and their families, the VA may reimburse out-of-pocket costs related to the above-listed conditions and the following additional conditions:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
However, getting compensation can be a complicated process. For example, you need to prove a relationship to a veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, that you resided at Camp Lejeune, that you have a covered medical condition, and that you paid health care expenses. These cases require significant investigation and documentation, and an attorney can make this process much more manageable.
What was the safety hazard at Camp Lejeune?
Between 1953 and 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with the following toxic chemicals:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
The military shut down some of the most contaminated wells in the mid-to-late 1980s. However, there is evidence that toxins may remain in the water at Camp Lejeune to this day.
If you were exposed at Camp Lejeune, talk to a lawyer today.
Again, there is legal recourse for people who were exposed to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune, both through the VA and, depending on the circumstances, potentially other avenues as well. However, actually getting that compensation is not easy. You need an attorney experienced in these types of cases to move your claim forward and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve by law.
Veterans and their families deserve justice. We can help. Schedule your free consultation with Brent Adams & Associates today. Our conversation is confidential and there is no cost or obligation to hire us, just answers about your legal rights.
