Section 1
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
From 1953 to 1987, the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina was contaminated with toxic chemicals at levels 240 to 3,400 times above safety standards.
☠️ Trichloroethylene (TCE) — Industrial degreasing solvent, known carcinogen
☠️ Perchloroethylene (PCE) — Dry cleaning solvent from off-base dry cleaner
☠️ Benzene — Component of fuel, known to cause leukemia and blood cancers
☠️ Vinyl Chloride — Breakdown product of TCE, linked to liver cancer
Who is affected: An estimated 1 million service members and their families were exposed during this period. This includes Marines, sailors, civilian employees, and family members who lived on base.
Section 2
8 Presumptive Conditions
If you served at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days during the contamination period, the VA presumes these conditions are service-connected:
Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Not on the list? You can still file for other conditions on a
direct service-connection basis with medical evidence linking your condition to the contaminated water. See our
Presumptive Conditions guide for more.
Section 3
PACT Act & Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune Justice Act (Part of PACT Act)
The PACT Act of 2022 included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which for the first time allows veterans and family members to file federal lawsuits for harm caused by water contamination — separate from VA disability claims.
⚖️ Lawsuits: Filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina — separate from VA claims
💰 VA Claims: Disability compensation through VA is a separate process and can be pursued simultaneously
For the full scope of PACT Act benefits, see our PACT Act Hub.
Section 4
How to File a Camp Lejeune VA Claim
1
Establish your presence. Gather evidence you were stationed at or lived on Camp Lejeune for 30+ days between Aug 1953 and Dec 1987 — DD-214, personnel records, housing records.
2
Get diagnosed. Obtain a current diagnosis for your condition from a medical provider.
3
File VA Form 21-526EZ. Submit your disability claim, specifying Camp Lejeune water contamination as the cause.
4
For presumptive conditions: You only need to prove you were there and have the diagnosis. No nexus letter required.
5
For non-presumptive conditions: You will need a medical nexus opinion linking your condition to the contaminated water.
Pro tip: File an Intent to File (ITF) first to protect your effective date. Use our
ITF Countdown Tracker to stay on schedule.
Section 5
Healthcare Benefits (Separate from Disability)
🏥 Veterans
Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days during the contamination period can receive free VA healthcare for any of 15 covered conditions — no disability rating required. Enroll through VA healthcare enrollment (VA Form 10-10EZ).
👨👩👧 Family Members
Family members who lived at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days during the contamination period may be eligible for reimbursement of healthcare costs for covered conditions through the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program.
15 healthcare-covered conditions include the 8 presumptive conditions plus: esophageal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, miscarriage, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease), female infertility, neurobehavioral effects, and renal toxicity.
Section 6
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes — if your time at Camp Lejeune totaled 30 days or more during the contamination period, you qualify. Many Marines completed boot camp there, which typically lasted 8-12 weeks.
A: Yes. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (federal lawsuit) and VA disability compensation are separate processes. However, any VA disability payments may be offset against lawsuit damages.
A: Many conditions from toxic exposure take 20-40 years to develop. For the 8 presumptive conditions, there is no time limit. The VA recognizes the long latency period for these diseases.
A: Yes. Surviving spouses, children, and parents may be eligible for
DIC benefits if the veteran's death was related to Camp Lejeune exposure. Family members can also file their own healthcare claims and federal lawsuits.