The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has now established presumptive service connection for diseases that are associated to exposure with contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, N.C.  The presumption applies to active duty, reservists, and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days (does not have to be consecutive days) between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.  The presumptive conditions are:

• Adult Leukemia

• Aplastic Anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes

• Bladder Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Liver Cancer

• Multiple Myeloma

• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Parkinson’s Disease

Veterans and family members are already eligible for certain medical care benefits; now Veterans can file a benefits claim for the presumptive conditions to become service connected for those conditions.  To file a claim or if you have questions, please contact me.