Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Camp LeJeune and Veterans Disability


From the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals.
Under a law signed Aug. 6, 2012, Veterans and family members who served on active duty or resided at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between Jan. 1, 1957 and Dec. 31, 1987 may be eligible for medical care through VA for 15 health conditions:
   Esophageal cancer
   Breast cancer
   Kidney cancer
   Multiple myeloma
   Renal toxicity
   Female infertility
   Scleroderma
   Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
   Lung cancer
   Bladder cancer
   Leukemia
   Myelodysplastic syndromes
   Hepatic steatosis
   Miscarriage
   Neurobehavioral effects

While none of the conditions above qualify for presumptive status, veterans may still pursue direct service connection through a medical nexus letter. 

In 2012, Quatrini Rafferty was able to obtain full service-connection, and a 100% disability percentage, for our client - a Camp LeJeune vet and current Westmoreland County resident - by working with our client's treating oncologist and hematologist to get medical nexus reports.
  


- Veterans Disability Law Group at Quatrini Rafferty


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