Camp Lejeune / New River
- 30+ days of service at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River between Aug 1953 – Dec 1987
- 8 diseases are presumptive including cancers, Parkinson's, and blood disorders
- Days don't need to be consecutive — total cumulative time counts
- Priority Group 6 healthcare available for eligible veterans and family members
The water supply at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for decades. Congress has recognized that service members, employees, and family members exposed to this contaminated water are at higher risk for certain diseases.
PACT Act Update: The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (part of the PACT Act) allows veterans and family members to file federal lawsuits for harm caused by the contaminated water. This is separate from VA disability benefits.
Covered Locations
The following locations within Camp Lejeune and New River are covered:
- Camp Geiger
- Camp Johnson
- Camp Knox
- Hadnot Point
- Holcomb Boulevard
- Montfort Point
- Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune
- Tarawa Terrace
Eligibility
Active Duty, Reservists, and National Guard members who served at least 30 days (consecutive OR non-consecutive):
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC | August 1, 1953 – December 31, 1987 |
| Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC | August 1, 1953 – December 31, 1987 |
Family members and civilian employees who resided or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days during this period may also be eligible for healthcare benefits and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit option.
Presumptive Diseases
These conditions can develop at any point before death. However, the condition's severity MUST have reached at least 10% at some point:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
Healthcare Benefits
Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days during the covered period are eligible for:
- Priority Group 6 healthcare from the Veterans Health Administration
- Coverage for 15 health conditions related to the water contamination
- Family members may also be eligible for healthcare reimbursement
Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), part of the PACT Act, allows veterans and family members to file federal lawsuits against the government for harm caused by contaminated water.
This is SEPARATE from VA benefits. You can pursue both a disability claim AND a lawsuit. However, any lawsuit settlement may affect your VA benefits — consult an attorney.
Key points:
- Lawsuits must be filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina
- The statute of limitations varies — consult an attorney immediately
- You must have resided, worked, or been otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days between Aug 1953 and Dec 1987