Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base in North Carolina.
Here, between 1953 and 1987, people were subjected to a contaminated Camp Lejeune water supply.
This included those in military service, military families, and civilian workers.
In some cases, for decades, they had been drinking, bathing, swimming, and cleaning with highly-toxic water.
As a result, many people who once lived and worked at the military base developed terrible illnesses.
Fatty liver disease is just one of these debilitating diseases.
Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Claims Due to Toxic Water
Doctors began diagnosing unfortunate victims from Camp Lejeune with severe liver diseases.
Victims developed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and even liver cancer.
Some developed other forms of cancer alongside a variety of other conditions.
Even children born to pregnant women who lived on the base would suffer from serious health problems years later.
The medical evidence linking this toxic water to these severe health issues is convincing.
In reaction to this, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) put unique benefits for affected military personnel and their families.
Similarly, the federal government passed a new law that allows the affected to take legal action and gain health benefits.
You can hold people responsible for contaminated drinking water.
But just because you got sick after living or working on the base doesn’t mean you qualify.
Many are excluded from benefits.
So what can you do if you’ve either been denied or don’t qualify for benefits?
Here’s what you need to know.
Did Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Cause Liver Disease?
Yes, evidence points in that direction. Researchers studied Camp Lejeune’s chronic exposure.
They found a clear link between the known water toxins and liver damage like hepatic steatosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.
Hepatic steatosis is the medical name for fatty liver disease.
But that’s not all.
According to the VA, scientific evidence shows a link between the base’s water and several health effects:
- Hepatic steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Liver Cancer and Liver Failure
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Nervous system-related effects like emotional, learning, or behavioral challenges
- Esophageal cancer (throat)
- Myelodysplastic syndromes (a blood disorder)
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, a critical part of your immune system)
- Infertility in females
- Miscarriage and congenital disabilities
- Multiple myeloma (a blood plasma cancer)
- Leukemia (blood cancer)
- Renal toxicity (kidneys)
- Scleroderma (a disease that causes the skin to harden and tighten)
This doesn’t even consider the psychological distress involved with Being diagnosed with a severe illness or living with a health condition.
Evidence that Camp Lejeune Water Caused Liver Disease
Veterans, family members, and civilians drank unsafe levels of these toxic substances:
- Vinyl chloride: A substance used to make plastic pipes.
- Perchloroethylene (PCE): A chlorinated solvent found in dry cleaning businesses.
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): A chlorinated solvent that works as a cleaner and metal degreaser.
- Benzene: A substance made from petroleum and used in fuels.
- Variety of other toxic chemicals
Investigators found significant evidence these substances were well above safe levels in well water.
This well water went into base homes and offices.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that an off-site dry cleaner unsafely dumped contaminated water.
Tragically, the water found its way to the groundwater supplying the wells. The result was toxic drinking water.
Other industrial spills and leaky underground storage tanks may also have contributed.
Medical evidence shows solvent exposure puts individuals at a much higher risk of developing liver disease.
The CDC highlights three studies in particular.
First, they studied people who suffered health issues due to Camp Lejeune water.
- Mortality Study of Civilian Employees – Civilian contractors at Camp Lejeune are much more likely to die of many cancers.
- Mortality Study of Marine and Naval Personnel – Marines and Navy were more likely to die from several cancers, including liver cancer.
- Cancer Incidence Study – Researchers compare cancer rates at Base Camp Lejeune to those without contaminated water. This study is ongoing.
The CDC’s toxin facts pages further clarify that the toxins in the base’s water cause known harm to humans.
According to them, at high levels (such as those seen at Camp Lejeune), human studies show:
- TCE causes liver damage, among other illnesses
- PCE causes liver damage and cancer in animal studies. Sadly, with Camp Lejeune, we now have human studies to show this.
- Vinyl Chloride can cause liver damage and affect how the liver develops in the womb.
Sadly, the discovery of toxic chemicals by the U.S. government didn’t occur until 1982.
By that time, many had already developed severe medical conditions.
How to File a Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Lawsuit or Claim
If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, you can file a lawsuit or claim.
However, whether you were a civilian, military, or military family will determine your eligibility for compensation or healthcare benefits.
Who Qualifies for Camp Lejeune Health Benefits?
Did you spend at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987?
The VA has set up a program to get health care benefits if you are a military member or a military family.
This can even reimburse you for payments you’ve already made.
First, you’ll need to have one of 15 diseases strongly linked to this event.
You can file a new claim through the VA website.
If you are a veteran, reservist, or national guard who was not dishonorably discharged, you’ll need to provide the following:
- Military records showing you served at Camp Lejeune in this time frame AND
- Medical records showing you have one of the conditions
As a military service member, you may also qualify for disability compensation.
If you are a family member, you need the following:
- Proof of your relationship with a service member at Camp Lejeune
- Proof you lived on the base (utility bill, tax form, etc.). Note: This includes if your mother was still pregnant with you at the time.
- Medical records show you have one of the 15 illnesses.
Get Help Filing a Claim to Pursue Compensation For Serious Health Problems Caused By Water Contamination
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows certain people to bring a lawsuit based on their exposure to the toxic water supply at Camp Lejeune.
If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, you may now be able to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
This is not limited to the 15 illnesses; you don’t have to be military personnel or their families.
If you believe you were affected by the water contamination at the base, please click the button below to be redirected to our contact form and discuss your claim with our team today.
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