Previously I discussed veterans’ concerns for potential Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation for disability for United States Marine Corps veterans and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina between the years of 1957 and 1987, who developed illness(es) as a result of the presence of toxic chemicals in the drinking water.
On November 29, 2011, VA issued a further directive letter to the Regional Offices, called Fast Letter (FL)11-03 (Revised) Processing Disability Claims Based on Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune. The directive elaborated on research completed by the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council (NRC) that identified fourteen diseases that reflect a limited/suggestive evidence of a association between these diseases and chemical compounds in the water during the period of contamination. The diseases include, but are not limited to, the following:
Esophageal cancer
Lung cancer
Breast cancer
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Adult leukemia
Multiple myeloma
Myleodispasic syndromes
Renal toxicity
Hepatic steatosis
Female infertility
Miscarriage, with exposure during pregnancy
Scleroderma
Neurobehavioral effects
FL 11-03 Revised again states that all disability claims and appeals based on exposure to contaminated water at Marine Corps base camp Lejeune, North Carolina will be consolidated and processed by the Louisville Regional Office. Claims processing will focus on evidence development including verification of service at Camp Lejuene during the time period at issue and a medical examination to establish competent evidence of a medical nexus opinion between the claimed disability and exposure. The nexus will be determined on a case by case basis. There is no presumption of service-connection.
Gardberg continues to monitor and track VA policy developments regarding compensation for veterans and dependents exposed to water contamination at Camp LeJuene.
Please contact me if your, or a loved one, have any questions regarding filing or appealing a application for VA compensation based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987.