Camp Lejeune Water Strongly Linked to Parkinson's Disease
In May of this year, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology or JAMA found that veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune from 1975 to 1985 had a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease than veterans who were stationed at other United States bases. The study also found that the risk of Parkinson's disease was higher the longer a veteran was exposed to the contaminated water. The substantial evidence linking Parkinson's disease to the water at Camp Lejeune continues to come in.
The Camp Lejeune drinking water was contaminated with TCE and other chemicals from 1953 to 1987, per the study, due to leakage from underground storage tanks, industrial spills, waste disposal sites, and a dry-cleaning business.
What is Camp Lejeune, and what happened?
Camp Lejeune is a U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Marines, families, and people living or working on the base from the 1950s through the 1980s were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water. Drinking this contaminated water for over four decades has put hundreds of thousands of people at risk for cancer and other serious illnesses.
The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune contained several harmful chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are known to damage the nervous system, and they have been linked to several other health problems, including cancer, liver disease, reproductive problems, and now Parkinson's.
It should be noted that the study on Camp Lejeune is not the only study that has found a link between TCE exposure and Parkinson's disease. Other studies have found similar results, and the World Health Organization has classified TCE as a probable human carcinogen.
In addition, the VA has now recognized Parkinson's disease as a presumptive condition for veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune. This means that veterans who develop Parkinson's disease after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are presumed to have developed the disease due to their service and are eligible for disability benefits from the VA.
If you need immediate assistance or have further questions, please contact The VA Claims Lawyer, we are experienced in veterans' benefits, and our nationwide practice is here to help you. We will review your case for free and help you get the monthly compensation you deserve. Please call us at 877 VET FILE.
What is the Lejeune Justice Act?
On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed the PACT Act of 2022 into law. Under Section 804 of the PACT Act, known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, military, civilians, and their families can seek reparations from the United States government for those impacted by living and working at Camp Lejeune and who were exposed to toxic water on the base.
According to the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination (CLWC) benefits eligibility guidelines, it took only 30 days to have lifelong health problems from simply drinking the water. The two wells that had these chemicals were shut down in 1985.
If you are a veteran stationed at Camp Lejeune and you are concerned about your risk of developing Parkinson's disease, you should talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you assess your risk and discuss your treatment options.
How do I know if I am eligible for VA disability compensation?
You must prove your disability is connected to your military service to be eligible for VA disability compensation payments on a presumptive basis. You must also meet the following requirements.
You worked or lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
You didn't receive a dishonorable discharge when you separated from the military.
You have a diagnosis of 1 or more of these presumptive conditions:
Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Parkinson's disease
With your filing, you will also need to provide these documents.
Documents that prove that you worked or lived for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. These documents can include utility bills, base housing records, military orders, or tax forms.
Medical records that show you have 1 of the 15 covered health conditions. The records must include the date of your diagnosis and the date you got treated for this illness.
An experienced VA attorney can help you gather the necessary documents and assist you with filing.
How can The VA Claims Lawyer can help
If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and developed a serious illness, you may be entitled to damages. We can help you get the benefits you deserve.
At The VA Claims Lawyer, we're not just your legal representative. We're your advocate. We've successfully assisted countless veterans in getting the VA benefits they deserve. We can also help you obtain the best possible outcome in your case. If we don't win your case, there is no fee. Contact us today at (877) VET-FILE for your free case evaluation.
