Camp Lejeune Cancers and Conditions

Camp Lejeune is a U.S. Marine Base where service members and others living on base were exposed to toxic chemicals in contaminated water from 1953 to 1987. These contaminants came from gas stations, auto repair shops, and a dry-cleaning company. The companies contaminated both solid waste and emitted toxic chemicals into the air. Years later, many individuals exposed to these chemicals developed cancer and other diseases.

If you or a family member is facing a health condition or other complication and spent at least 30 days on Camp Lejeune from 1953 through 1987, you may be entitled to compensation.

What Chemicals Were Discovered at Camp Lejeune?

The United States Government investigated these issues and tested the water at Camp Lejeune for harmful chemicals between 1980 and 1984, which indicated that benzene, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene were in the water. After this finding, the U.S. government began investigating. It took until 1985 for the contamination zones to be shut down, and until 1987 for it to be safe to drink the water again.

Studies have shown that there is a tie between the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune and certain health problems, like cancer, infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. There were over 70 chemicals identified in the water at Camp Lejeune, such as:

• Perchloroethylene (PCE). PCE is a dry-cleaning solvent. A dry cleaning business on the base used PCE to wash clothing for Camp Lejeune residents, and the PCE leaked into the water on the base.
• Trichloroethylene (TCE). TCE is a metal degreaser.
• Benzene. Benzene is a material used to make plastic, resin, synthetic fiber, detergent, and dye.
• Vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride is a material used to manufacture PVC pipes, upholstery for cars, wire coating, and plastic utensils.

Which Areas on Base Were Most Affected?

Three areas of the base were affected more than others:

• Tarawa Terrace. This was a family housing area that was contaminated since 1952.
• Hadnot Point. This was bachelor housing and was contaminated since 1952.
• Halcomb Boulevard. This was also family housing and was contaminated since 1972.

What Conditions Did the Contamination at Camp Lejeune Cause?

The chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune have caused numerous cancers and diseases. Quite a few former military members and their families suffer from presumptive conditions. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimated that as many as one million people could have been affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The most common conditions related to water contamination are kidney, liver, lung, and bladder cancer. If you or a loved one has one or more of these health complications and you spent at least thirty days at Camp Lejeune between the years of 1953 and 1987, you could be entitled to monetary compensation.

What Is a Presumptive Condition?

A presumptive condition is an illness that a military member received during active duty. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will presume that the military member’s service caused certain illnesses, and the military member can then claim non-taxable benefits as compensation.

To qualify as a presumption condition, the diagnosis must have been less than a year after the completion of active duty. Examples of common presumptive illnesses are arthritis and Type 2 diabetes. A person affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune may qualify for these types of benefits.

Which Conditions from Camp Lejeune Are Presumptive Conditions?

Some conditions associated with Camp Lejeune take weeks, months, and even years after exposure to the contaminated water to manifest. Many veterans from the base did not realize they had a condition until up to twenty years after their stay at Camp Lejeune.

The VA has classified eight conditions as presumptive:

• Leukemia. Adult leukemia is a severe and potentially life-threatening illness that requires extensive treatment and severely diminishes the quality of life. Leukemia has been linked to TCE and benzene exposure.
• Liver cancer. Liver cancer interferes with the liver’s ability to function correctly. The VA considers liver cancer to be a form of disability and uses a rating system for severity. Liver cancer is linked to vinyl chloride and TCE.
• Bladder cancer. Certain types of bladder cancer have ties to Camp Lejeune. Bladder cancer is a disease in which malignant cells grow in the tissue of the bladder and it causes pain and suffering when urinating, as well as severe back pain. It can require expensive surgery and treatment, and studies show that bladder cancer only has a 77% five-year survival rate. Bladder cancer has been linked to tetrachloroethylene, and PCE exposure.
• Aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia is a rare form of anemia that interferes with the body’s ability to create red blood cells.
• Kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is another type of cancer that interferes with the regular function of the organ. TCE is a carcinogen strongly connected to kidney cancer. The ATSDR performed studies on rates of kidney cancer and determined that there is a much higher rate of kidney cancer among those who were at Camp Lejeune than among the average population.
• Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease causes muscle stiffness and impaired balance. Several studies have linked Parkinson’s with TCE exposure.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma begins in the lymphatic system and forms too many white blood cells, which initiates tumor growth. It may require radiation therapy and bone marrow transplants. Three chemicals from the water at Camp Lejeune have been connected with this disease: PCE, TCE, and benzene.
• Multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell cancer caused by TCE and benzene exposure. Treatment is very expensive and extensive, and the disability rating for this disease is normally 100 percent, meaning benefits will be greater.

Without a diagnosis for a presumptive condition, a veteran may not qualify for benefits through the VA, but they can file a lawsuit based on the water contamination. If you or a loved one finds yourself in a situation where you are suffering from either a presumptive condition or another type of condition, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options and find out what path will be the best for you to secure the compensation you need.

Health Risk Studies in Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune

Many studies have been performed to determine the causation and correlation between toxic chemicals and the conditions developed. The ATSDR is an agency for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which investigates and studies environmental issues caused by substances. The ATSDR has performed studies to determine the health risks specifically related to the chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. It performed mortality studies to determine the rates of death in 150,000 marines and civilian contractors based on certain cancers. These types of studies have proven very useful in evaluating causation and determining which conditions have the strongest links to Camp Lejeune.

Camp Lejeune Condition Tiers

Cancers caused by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune can be placed in two tiers that correspond with the strength of the evidence that links the condition to the toxic chemicals in the water. Tier 1 conditions have strong data connecting them to Camp Lejeune, meaning that these conditions have the largest settlements. Some estimates guess that the value of a tier 1 cancer case is worth between $500,000 and $1 million.

Some tier 1 conditions are:

• Leukemia.
• Kidney cancer.
• Bladder cancer.
• Liver cancer.
• Breast cancer.
• Multiple myeloma.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Esophageal cancer.

Tier 2 conditions have some evidence connecting them to Camp Lejeune water contamination, but the evidence is not as strong as tier 1 conditions. These conditions won’t yield quite as much in a settlement as tier 1 conditions, but estimates show that an individual could expect between $250,000 and $500,000 in compensation for these claims. Tier 2 conditions are less defined than tier 1, but usually include:

• Cervical cancer.
• Lung cancer.
• Prostate cancer.
• Aplastic anemia.
• Brain cancer.
• Colon cancer.
• Ovarian cancer.

Some other conditions that aren’t especially tier 2 or tier 2 and are suspected to have been caused by the Camp Lejeune water contamination are:

• Cardiac defects.
• Neurobehavioral effects.
• Scleroderma.
• Infertility.
• Miscarriage.
• Birth defects.
• Choanal atresia.
• Eye defects.
• Hepatic Steatosis.
• Pancreatic cancer.
• Rectal cancer.
• Renal toxicity.
• Soft tissue cancers.

How Do I Know If I Qualify and How Do I File a Claim?

In 2012, the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act was passed to assist those affected by water contamination with healthcare benefits and medical coverage. This Act stated that, after other insurance benefits have been used, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was required to cover the healthcare costs of those injured at Camp Lejeune as long as they spent at least 30 days on base between 1957 and 1987.

Then, in 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was passed, which allows people harmed at Camp Lejeune to sue in U.S. federal court, specifically in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This Act allows people to directly sue the United States government as long as conditions are met.

What Information Is Needed to Determine if I Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?

Your attorney will need to gather information from you about when you were at Camp Lejeune and what conditions the water contamination caused. Your attorney will want to know:

• When, where, and why you were on base. Your attorney will want to know when you were at the Camp Lejeune Marine Base, where on the base you lived and/or worked, and why you were on the base. To qualify for recovery, you must have been on the base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. This means a total of 30 days, not 30 consecutive days. You do not have to have lived on the base to file a lawsuit as long as you were on base working or visiting for the time duration and during the dates of the contamination.
• Proof/evidence that you were on base. Your attorney will want to know what proof you have that you lived, worked, or visited the base during those times.
• If you have filed previous Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Your attorney will need to know if you have filed a previous lawsuit for a condition sustained due to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune and whether you have already been compensated for that harm.
• What condition you are suffering from. Your attorney will want information on the injury or condition that you want to file the lawsuit for. Some of the relevant information is when you were diagnosed and who made the diagnosis. Your attorney will want to see records from these doctor’s visits if you have them or can acquire them. You will likely be asked if your physician informed you that your issue was caused by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
• Documentation of the service member. If you are or were a service member of at Camp Lejeune because your family member was a service member, your attorney will likely ask if you have a copy of that service member’s CC-214, the document that all United States military members receive when discharged that shows rank, time served, MOS and job title, and discharge status.

Regan Zambri Long, PLLC

If you are considering filing a legal claim for harm suspected to have been caused by the chemicals at Camp Lejeune, one of the many experienced lawyers on our team can help. Hiring an experienced attorney who is familiar with Camp Lejeune will take the burden of proving your case off your shoulders. Our lawyers will fight to secure the compensation you deserve.

Our lawyers often operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they are compensated for their services only after you win, and the amount owed is based on the amount you win at trial. Call Regan Zambri Long today or contact us online for a free case evaluation.