VA Now Paying Compensation To Victims of Contaminated Lejeune Water

Today the VA begins providing disability benefits to Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members affected by the contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Disability Benefits For Veterans Who Were Stationed At Camp Lejeune

VA has established a rule stating that those who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River, including all satellite camps and housing areas, from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 who later developed one of the following eight diseases can now receive disability benefits::

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Parkinson's disease

Presently, these conditions are the only ones for which there is sufficient scientific and medical evidence to support the creation of presumptions; however, VA will continue to review relevant information as it becomes available.

See our Disability Compensation page for more information about including how to apply for VA Disability Compensation.

Health Benefits

In accordance with the 2012 Camp Lejeune health care law, the VA also provides free health care for certain conditions to Veterans who served at least 30 days of active duty at Camp Lejeune from January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987.

Qualifying health conditions for free health care include:

See our VA Health Care Overview for more information about VA Health Care Benefits.

Camp Lejeune Family Member Health Care Reimbursement

Family members of Veterans who also resided at Camp Lejeune or qualifying nearby areas during the qualifying period are eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the 15 covered health conditions. VA can only pay treatment costs that remain after payment from your other health plans. To submit an application for family care reimbursement you should submit:

• Documentation showing dependent relationship to a Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, such as marriage license or birth certificate
• Documentation showing you lived on the base for 30 days or more between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987 such as copies of orders or base housing records
• You paid health care expenses for a covered condition respective to the following date ranges.
  • If you lived on Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987, then you can be reimbursed for care that you received on or after August 6, 2012
  • If you lived on Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1956, then you can be reimbursed for care that you received on or after December 16, 2014

When evidence is not submitted, VA will use all relevant evidence from internal sources and the Department of Defense (DoD) to support your application. Please be aware it may take longer to review your application.

Family members should apply online for reimbursement or call 866-372-1144 for help.

For more details see the VA's Camp Lejeune Past Water Contamination Page.