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Camp Lejeune VA Benefits Claims Lawyer

If you are a veteran and believe your health conditions are from the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, contact a Regan Zambri Long Camp Lejeune lawyer today. Our lawyers will use knowledge of VA health benefits, the laws regarding VA disability benefits, and various insurance policies in the DC Metro Area to negotiate a fair settlement for you and your family. We will help you obtain VA disability compensation so your health conditions are fully covered. We offer a free consultation where you can speak with an expert attorney who will guide you through the VA disability claim process.

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Toxic Exposure at Camp Lejeune Lasted Over 30 Years

Camp Lejeune is a Marine corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The base opened in 1941 in the middle of WWII to act as an amphibious training facility. By the end of 1942, the base was named Marine Barracks Camp Lejeune after WWI Major General John A. Lejeune.

Beginning in August 1953 contaminated water began leaking into the underground storage tanks at Camp Lejeune. The leaking underground storage tanks led to water contamination that created health hazards for the Marines and their families who were living on the base. The toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune lasted until 1987 – over 30 years.

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Am I Eligible for VA disability benefits?

There are certain criteria Marines must meet to qualify for VA disability benefits. The first criteria is that the Marine must have served at Camp Lejeune from August 1953 through December 1987 for at least 30 consecutive days. The second criteria is that the Marine must have been honorably discharged when he or she separated from the military.

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Camp Lejeune Claims Qualifying Illnesses

The military personnel must suffer from one of the following illnesses to qualify for disability benefits:

  • Adult leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Parkinson’s disease
    • A family member of a Camp Lejeune Marine may also qualify for VA disability benefits. They have to have the following criteria to qualify:

      • Documentation proving your relationship with the veteran who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 consecutive days. Documents can include a marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, etc.
      • Documentation proving you lived at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 for at least 30 consecutive days. This documentation can include utility bills, housing records, military orders, and tax forms.
      • Medical records showing that you have one of the conditions listed above.
      • Evidence that you paid health care expenses for the condition between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, or between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1956.
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How Did the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Affect the Marines Living on the Base?

Camp Lejeune families suffered many different illnesses due to water contamination. The National Institute of Health(NIH) set up committees to evaluate the different health conditions Marines and their families suffered.

Infertility

The NIH committees found an association between exposure to PCE and TCE with both male and female infertility. Females who were exposed had trouble conceiving children after exposure. The women who were exposed during pregnancy suffered miscarriages.

Glomerulonephritis

The NIH also found links between Glomerulonephritis and exposure to the toxic chemicals from the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the kidneys. It can cause pink urine, high blood pressure, fluid retention, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and fatigue. A doctor should be seen right away if any of the symptoms occur.

Scleroderma

This is also known as systemic sclerosis. It’s a group of rare diseases that tighten and harden the skin. The diseases also cause trouble in the blood vessels, internal organs, and digestive tract. When the disease involves the heart and lungs it can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, and decreased exercise tolerance.

Carcinogens

Carcinogens are substances capable of causing cancer in living tissue. The NIH found that prolonged exposure to PCE and TCE at Camp Lejeune caused malignant tumors in military personnel and their family members.
The different types of cancer that are associated with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include:

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a disease of the nervous system. Over time, victims of Parkinson’s will lose their ability to control any movement. The exposure to TCE, PCE, and even vinyl chloride and benzene caused many military members and their families to develop Parkinson’s disease. At this time, there is no known cure for the disease.

Birth defects

Tragically, infants also suffered from the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Infants were born with severe birth defects like disfigurement, neural tube defects, low birth weight, choanal atresia, eye defects, cardiac defects, oral cleft defects, and even fetal death.

Other diseases and illnesses Marines and their family members may experience are:

If you or one of your family members are suffering from an illness listed above, or another illness you suspect may have something to do with the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, call Regan Zambri Long for a free consultation. You will speak with an expert attorney who will walk you through the process of a Camp Lejeune water claim.

Contact a Regan Zambri Long Camp Lejeune VA Benefits Claims Lawyer

Accessing VA disability benefits should be easy, especially for the men and women who faithfully served at Camp Lejeune. However, VA healthcare benefits can be difficult to obtain. The burden of proof is on the veteran. That means it is up to you to prove that you were affected by the toxic chemicals in the Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long can help. Our law firm, which practices in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., firmly believes in protecting the rights of our military service members. When you partner with us, your chance of collecting the maximum disability compensation greatly improves. One of our partners, Victor Long, recently won a $4.2 million settlement for U.S. Army soldiers.

Proving your case

Your Regan Zambri Long lawyer will break down your case into three parts. The first is to prove that your health issues are a direct result of the toxic exposure to toxic substances at Camp Lejeune. The first thing we will do is gather medical evidence. We will use records of a medical examination, medical treatment, blood tests, scans, and prescriptions to prove your illness.

The next thing your lawyer will do is prove that your health condition started while you were on active duty at Camp Lejeune. We will pour over documentation like tax records, housing records, and utility bills to prove you were on base and exposed to the toxic substances in the contaminated water.

In the last part of the VA disability claim, we will decide on the damages. There is no single estimate of how much you can receive for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. The amount largely depends on how serious your illness was from the Camp Lejeune water contamination. However, your Regan Zambri Long lawyer will fight to recover the highest compensation possible so that your health care costs – both current and future – are fully taken care of.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims

Q: Will a Camp Lejeune lawsuit affect VA benefits?

A: No. You can pursue both VA benefits and a lawsuit for Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed in August 2022. The act allows certain individuals to sue and recover damages for the harm caused by Camp Lejeune water contamination.

You can also file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act if you’ve already received VA benefits. The amount of money you receive from your benefits will not change.

Additionally, the Camp Lejeune Families Act was passed in 2012. This act is meant to protect both the veterans and their families. It is meant to provide free health care to Marines and their families who were affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination.

Q: Is there a statute of limitations to a Camp Lejeune claim?

A: There is a statute of limitations to a Camp Lejeune claim. It is a two-year limitation for water contamination claims. In addition to the statute of limitations, the veteran must exhaust all other options before filing the claim.

This is where Regan Zambri Long can step in. While you focus on your health and healing from water contamination, your lawyer will focus on filing the claim in a timely manner. We will take care of the claim, the investigation, the negotiations, and even a trial.

Q: Is there a Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit?

A: No, there is no class action lawsuit for Camp Lejeune water contamination. All lawsuits have to be filed separately by independent individuals.

Q: How much does it cost to hire a Regan Zambri Long lawyer?

A: At Regan Zambri Long, we understand what you and your family are going through. Dealing with a prolonged illness causes physical pain, stress, and loss. We have a deep respect for our military and want to make the claims process as easy as possible for you so that your focus can be on your recovery.

Our promise to our clients is that we will never ask for a fee upfront. You read that correctly. You will not pay a dime during the entire process. We will only collect a fee if we win a settlement in your favor. Call today for a no-obligation consultation to get the process started.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596

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