Did you serve on active duty at the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1987? You may have been exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals.

The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 provided VA authority to treat Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for not less than 30 days during the covered period. These Veterans are eligible for enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher and cost-free care VA health care for any of the following illnesses or conditions:

• Bladder cancer
• Miscarriage
• Breast cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Esophageal cancer
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Female infertility
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Hepatic steatosis
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Kidney cancer
• Renal toxicity
• Leukemia
• Scleroderma
• Lung Cancer

Veterans already enrolled in VA health care can contact their local VA medical facility to receive care under the new law. Veterans who are not enrolled should apply for VA health care benefits by completing a VA Form 10-10EZ. The application can be submitted online, by calling toll-free 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or in person at their local VA medical care facility. To find the location of the nearest VA medical facility, use the facility locator.

Certain Family members who resided at Camp Lejeune will be eligible for health care once Congress appropriates funds to VA and final regulations are published. Family members can call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) to obtain more information.

The VA Office of Public Health website provides information about Camp Lejeune water contamination here.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides information on its website. The US Marine Corps also maintains information here and encourages all who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune before 1987 to register to receive notifications.

Terry J. Walters is the Co-Chair of the VA Camp Lejeune Task Force and Deputy Chief Consultant of Post Deployment Health in the Office of Public Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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13 Comments

  1. bill delaney March 13, 2013 at 15:53

    billy hobbs i was stationed at 1st. bat. 6th marines had the worst abdominal pains ever ,was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis i wear a plastic bag also.you need to contact me . i live in las vegas nv.

  2. Billy Hobbs March 13, 2013 at 04:28

    I was stationed in 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company, 8th Marines in 1972. I have had abdominal problems, diagnosed with Acute Gasterious in 1972, IBS in 1987, and ulcerative colitis in 2001. The colitis destroyed my colon and rectum, both had to be removed. Now I wear a plastic bag on my abdomen. I had surgery a year ago to remove those things and I am still unable to work or function properly. Will someone respond and let me know if the water problem at Camp Lejeune could be the cause of my problems?

  3. Michelle March 12, 2013 at 22:04

    I did training at Camp Johnson, served at New River Air Station, spent some time at Camp Lejuene as well as delivering a child at the base hospital. My daughter also was hospitalized at the base hospital. Do WE need to worry? Our time at these sites was between 1979 and 1982.

  4. booksbenji March 12, 2013 at 05:27

    Y’all need to read this and update yr conditions od cancers(scroll down 2 bottom)
    http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/va-blasted-for-dragging-feet-on-aiding-camp-lejeune-families/1277317

  5. Ed March 8, 2013 at 15:35

    Here’s some information that others may find useful in developing claims prior to 1957. http://tftptf.com/Misc/Timeline_Linked_March_2012.pdf In this link click on the chemicals to the left to determine symptoms http://www.tftptf.com/52912/52954.html
    And here is the CDC’s listing of known carcinogens http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/cancer/npotocca.html#t
    Our VA Regional Office recommended we file the claim now! This will safeguard any earlier dates prior to 1957 if Congress elects to change the dates in the future.

  6. Kevin March 8, 2013 at 12:02

    In 1983, I attended training for 6 weeks at Camp Johnson. Is this area included within the Camp Lejuene contamination area?

  7. Domingo Aguilar March 3, 2013 at 06:54

    I lived and worked with Forest Troops Motor T, in the French Creek area from 1976 to 1979 before going PCS to Okinawa Japan for a year, I too suffer from many medical issues..

  8. Joseph Green February 27, 2013 at 18:50

    My daughter, a Lance Corporal in the Marines, died of breast cancer in 1994. She attended boot camp at Camp Lejeune in 1987. She was also stationed at Lejeune until she deployed for Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Too late for the VA to do anything to help now, but is there any sort of survivor benefit for her mother or father ?

    • Kris S, USMC vet March 7, 2013 at 19:05

      You need to file a claim for your daughter, please get someone to help you by contacting a Veteran Service Officer of VSO at a veterans service orginization (DAV, American Legion, VFW, etc)
      Sorry for your loss.

  9. GD Garrett February 23, 2013 at 12:35

    I was there for about a week in 1975, not long enough to have problems but I do have unexplained gastrointestinal problems. Just wondering if they could be related, drank a lot of water while there. I am not worried about the benefits as I am 100 % service connected anyway but this might help to determine a cause and find a solution to my problems.

  10. Joseph A. Stuart February 23, 2013 at 11:25

    I attended my mos schooling there in 1972 and suffer from a neurologic disorder.
    I believe their is a connection. After mos school I went overseas where I believe I came in
    contact with agent orange as well. But, how do I prove this.

  11. Thomas Reynolds February 22, 2013 at 13:51

    I lived and worked in the French Creek area from 1978 to 1980 before going PCS to Okinawa Japan for a year…would this qualify me?

  12. Randall Moore February 22, 2013 at 08:19

    I lived and worked on New River Air station From 1978 to 1981. I also had friends who lived in Tarawa terrace, and visited them often. Would ether one of these qualify me for benefits?

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