Camp Lejeune holds a significant place in American military history. The marines were trained by the North Carolina station in amphibious operations, which they ultimately used to fight Axis forces in the Pacific Islands during World War II. Marines trained at Camp Lejeune have played a significant role in every major conflict since, as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian missions throughout the world. However, Camp Lejeune has a dark period in its history that has only lately been revealed.
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What Happened At Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune was one of the most polluted places in the United States between the 1950s and the 1980s. For years, a dry-cleaning business discharged harsh chemicals into the surrounding storm channel, polluting the water that locals drank, cooked with, washed in, and bathed in. Underground fuel tanks also leaked into the freshwater resources.Â
Veterans and their loved ones exposed to polluted water at Camp Lejeune during the hazardous years, especially pregnant women, have experienced a slew of uncommon cancers, terrible birth abnormalities, and other debilitating health issues. These people have incurred a significant amount of medical debt as a result of cancer treatments, hospitalization, and long-term care. To make matters worse, upper-level executives at marine firms covered the harmful exposure for decades. This created the way for the authorities to initiate the Camp Lejeune Water Settlement lawsuits to assist the suffering families.
If you served there, you might have come into contact with toxins in the drinking water at Marine Corps site Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with a Camp Lejeune water contamination sickness, you can apply for health care coverage. Exposure to these toxins during military service has been linked to the development of certain health problems later in life. Because the locals have been dealing with a slew of medical difficulties, they have even put the necessary smoke detectors and water filters in their homes to safeguard the safety of their loved ones.
If your family members or veterans lived on-site during the contaminated period and have some medical concerns, they can claim compensation. Here’s what you should know.
Reimbursement for Medical Services
Individuals with one of the 15 eligible conditions may request compensation for out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred as a result of their illness. Reimbursement covers treatment costs not covered by insurance for up to two years before you claim benefits. When you apply, you must give proof of the following:
- You have a formally dependent link with a Camp Lejeune veteran, such as a birth certificate, adoption documents, and a marriage license.
- Proof that you lived on site for 30 days or more between August 1953 and December 1987, including records of military orders and base housing papers.
- You pay for medical expenses incurred as a result of a covered ailment or illness.
Reclaiming Unpaid Benefits
If the government declined your claim for Camp Lejeune’s toxic water compensation, you can appeal. You can investigate the refusal and gather fresh evidence for a supplementary claim. If you feel the rejection was made in error, then a request can be raised for a higher-level review or a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Camp Lejeune’s Veteran Disability Compensation Entitlement
Officials are yet to establish a probable military link between diseases among Camp Lejeune veterans caused by polluted drinking water. This makes obtaining service-connected disability pay for diseases and medical disorders alleged to be caused by exposure to the poisons at the camp difficult.
However, the authorities would investigate veterans’ claims of ailments caused by drinking water contaminants at the camp. Veterans must prove that their current disease is caused by exposure to polluted water. Similarly, veterans should be able to demonstrate duty at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and August 1987 and be dismissed under terms other than dishonorable.
The authorities may conduct a medical examination on a veteran to get a medical opinion on whether the present disease and health difficulties are the results of Camp Lejeune water pollution. If this view is not positive, the veteran should seek medical advice from a private practitioner if he or she can afford it. Those who want to initiate legal proceedings may be able to seek compensation for both non-economic and economic losses. The servicemen and their families have been fighting for a long time, but now they’re legally permitted to demand compensation for many losses.
Conclusion
Establishing a lawsuit for your compensation necessitates the use of accurate proof and documentation. A lawyer may examine this data and create the legal argument required to seek the best health and disability payments for Camp Lejeune’s toxicity illnesses. Hiring a lawyer can assist you in gathering the material required to develop a legal argument, such as military documents and medical history. This might give you a strong case for an appeal or give you a legal route to seek adequate and reasonable compensation for your losses.
