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Navy Veterans Who Served on Aircraft Carriers May Have Been Exposed to Jet Fuel

On Behalf of | Oct 11, 2022 | Veterans' Issues |

Recently, the VA acknowledged that sailors on the USS Nimitz were exposed to trace amounts of jet fuel in the water they drank and used on a daily basis. However, sailors have come forward and reported that the contamination is far worse than the Navy has admitted. While the Navy has admitted that 10 sailors reported they were suffering from health issues as a result of exposure to the contaminated water, the actual numbers appear to be far higher. Furthermore, sailors have reported seen a visible layer of jet fuel on top of potable water and inside the water storage tanks on the Nimitz. While the Navy is attempting to remove all traces of jet fuel from inside the Nimitz’s water supply, it will be both time consuming and costly.

Possibly the most alarming development resulting from the discovery of jet fuel contaminated water onboard the Nimitz is that sailors from other ships have come forward to also report aviation fuel contamination onboard other ships. Veterans, who served onboard carriers and amphibious ships across four decades, have come forward to report drinking or bathing in water that reeked of aviation fuel. The problem of aviation fuel getting into the potable water onboard Navy ships is beginning to look like a widespread problem that has been ongoing for decades. The number of Navy Veterans that have bathed in or consumed fuel contaminated water is unknown, but the number of Veterans who have served onboard carriers and other ships that carried aviation fuel is likely in the hundreds of thousands.

The dangers of contaminated water are well known by the VA given the recently passed PACT Act expanding compensation for Veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune. Veterans stationed there from 1953 through 1987 were exposed to dangerous chemicals in their water and as a result many have developed serious medical conditions. Jet fuel in particular has been linked to Veterans developing auditory processing dysfunction when exposed to loud noise, which on a ship and especially aircraft carriers is unavoidable. While it is too early to say what medical conditions may be caused by contaminated water onboard US Navy warships, Veterans should begin filing with the VA for anything that may be the result of exposure to contaminated water.

If you have medical conditions which you believe are the result of your military service and are unsure how to proceed, the qualified Veterans’ Disability attorneys at Gardberg and Kemmerly want to help in any way possible. Please call our office and speak with one of our qualified Veterans’ Disability attorneys. Gardberg and Kemmerly is committed to helping injured and disabled Veterans obtain the benefits they deserve.  If you need help with a disability claim, call the office at 251-343-1111 or 800-332-1529 for a free consultation. Gardberg and Kemmerly is proud to serve Veterans across the country from our home office in Mobile, Alabama. We would love an opportunity to discuss your claim.

 

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