To file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, you need evidence proving that you served, lived, or worked on base for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987. You will also need copies of reports, bills, and treatments related to your presumptive illnesses caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The more evidence you can provide in your Camp Lejeune case, the stronger your claim for compensation will be. Our team can help you gather any evidence you need to prove your case.
Useful Evidence To Support a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
If you suffered a Camp Lejeune-related illness, you may qualify for compensation. Before you can demand compensation, however, you need to prove you lived at Camp Lejeune and that your illness is linked to the contaminated water. You can do this by gathering evidence such as:
Military Service Records
An Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) can provide detailed information about your service history that includes:
- The date and type of your enlistment or appointment
- Your duty stations and assignments
- Your training, qualifications, and performance
- The date and type of your separation, discharge, or retirement from the military
This information can provide a timeline of how long you were stationed at Camp Lejeune, proving your service lasted at least 30 days.
Proof of Living Arrangements
You will want to provide documentation that you and your family lived on base between 1953 and 1987, such as housing records. Photo and video evidence may also be useful in your case.
Medical Records
In addition to providing documentation that you were at Camp Lejeune when the water was contaminated, you must also provide medical records. Information that helps your case can include symptoms recorded by a doctor, testing results, diagnosis, and your intervention plan, including medication needed. Records provided by your doctor can help link your illness to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Caused Illnesses
People living or working at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from August 1953 through December 1987 were potentially exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals found in the drinking water. Water from two on-base drinking plants was contaminated by an off-base dry-cleaning service, industrial spills, and underground storage tanks that leaked.
What Contaminates Were in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
As a result of on-base and off-base chemical spills and leaks, military personnel and their families may have been exposed to several hazardous chemicals. Four contaminants were identified as toxins in the water: trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These toxins can cause serious health conditions.
Presumptive Illnesses That May Qualify You for VA Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) allows veterans and their family members to qualify for health benefits. If you or a loved one suffer from one of these conditions, you may be able to receive compensation from VA to cover your medical costs:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Other qualifying health conditions could include:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
If you have a qualifying diagnosis and service period, you could be able to receive benefits.
What Kind of Benefits Can You Receive from VA?
If you are eligible to receive benefits from VA because of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you could be awarded health care and compensation.
To receive benefits, you will need to file a VA claim for disability compensation with the supporting documents. You can file a claim by:
- Getting help at a regional office
- Getting help from a veteran service officer (VSO)
- Filing online at VA.org
While you wait for a decision from VA, you can communicate with a lawyer about your options if you are denied benefits. You may be able to file a lawsuit to recover the range of losses you suffered.
What Evidence Do Family Members Need To Receive Benefits?
As a family member, you will need to file a claim for disability compensation with evidence such as:
- A marriage license, birth certificate, or adoption paperwork providing information on the relationship you have with the Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune.
- Any bills or housing records proving you resided at Camp Lejeune from August 1953 through December 1987 for at least 30 days.
- Medical records proving your illness is a result of water contamination.
- Evidence of medical payments for your condition.
All of this information will help determine your eligibility for benefits and prove you are eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Filing a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit With the Help of an Attorney
Camp Lejeune lawsuits can be complicated. An attorney from The Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you gather the evidence you need to support your Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Don’t wait to get started on your case. If you have any questions or need help with the filing process, contact a member of our team for a free consultation today.