The Department of Veteran Affairs announced on December 17, 2015 that it plans to propose expanded disability compensation eligibility for Veterans exposed to the contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune.  Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for up to 30 days or more during August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987 are already eligible to receive VA healthcare for up to 15 conditions.  Family members may also be eligible for reimbursement for out of pocket medical expenses for those medical conditions.  Based upon the VA’s review of the current medical science and Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Secretary McDonald intends to propose a presumption of service connection for the following conditions: Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma, Scleroderma, Parkinson’s Disease, Aplastic Anemia/Myelodysplastic Syndromes.  This proposal would also expand to the Reserve and National Guard personnel who served at Camp Lejeune during the same time period.

The VA is currently working on the regulation that would establish these presumptive conditions for compensation.  A claim for benefits cannot be granted based on presumption until the final regulation is published, but Veterans that have one of the conditions can begin to file a compensation claim.  Please come visit my office for help with the claim.