Since the passage of the PACT Act in August 2022, about 5,000 veterans and their families have filed Camp Lejeune lawsuits.
Passed as part of the PACT Act, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows veterans — and anyone else who lived or worked at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina — to file federal lawsuits and receive compensation for the health care issues they have experienced as a result of being exposed to contaminated water.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act applies to any U.S. Marine Corps veterans, civilians, reservists, and members of their households who lived or served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
Before the law passed, many people were concerned about whether filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit would affect or reduce existing monthly benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The answer is no.
Veterans who receive financial compensation for medical issues related to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water will continue to receive their monthly VA benefits. In other words, they will simultaneously receive two separate forms of compensation.
Are you interested in filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit? Find out what you need to do to get started.
1. Request Your DD 214 Form
Your military records are among the most important documents you will need to file a federal Camp Lejeune lawsuit. These records, included in the DD 214 form, will verify when you served at Camp Lejeune.
You can request a copy of your DD 214 form through the National Personnel Records Center. Requests can be made for yourself or on behalf of a loved one, and most of the time this information is released free of charge.
2. Gather Your Medical Records
Medical records are also needed to support your case. This will help prove that you have been diagnosed with at least one serious medical condition directly related to contaminated water exposure while living at Camp Lejeune.
Examples of these medical conditions include:
- Certain types of cancer, such as bladder, breast, esophageal, kidney, or lung cancer
- Female infertility and birth issues, such as miscarriages and birth defects
- Neurobehavioral issues, such as anxiety, dementia, insomnia, and Parkinson’s disease
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
3. Call a Camp Lejeune Lawyer
Filing a federal lawsuit can be a complicated process, so hiring an experienced attorney with particular expertise in this area of the law can help put your mind at ease. For example, some lawyers are accredited by the VA, so they may be able to help veterans throughout their legal proceedings.
You can also hire VA-accredited attorneys who work on a contingency basis. This means that they will only get paid if you win your case, meaning there’s no risk to work with them. In the event that you don’t win your case, they will not get paid either.
U.S. veterans may also qualify for compensation and VA benefits if they have other diseases that stem from their military service, including mesothelioma. A VA-accredited attorney can help veterans with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases seek justice.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit: Free Consultation
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with health issues caused by contaminated water exposure while living at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to compensation.
By working with an experienced legal team, you can determine if you qualify to file a Camp Lejeune drinking water settlement and receive financial compensation.
