VA Reachs Out to Camp Lejeune Marines and Families

Photo courtesy: The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten web site.

The VA is trying to connect with Marines and their families who may have been exposed to polluted drinking water while serving at the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune.

The drinking water was contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals and families living there between the period of January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987 may have exposed.

Co-Chair of the VA Camp Lejeune Task Force, Terry J. Walters, wrote a recent entry in the VA blog, VAntage Point, detailing eligibility plus the medical conditions and illnesses that are covered.

• Bladder cancer
• Miscarriage
• Breast cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Esophageal cancer
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Female infertility
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Hepatic steatosis
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Kidney cancer
• Renal toxicity
• Leukemia
• Scleroderma
• Lung Cancer

Walters writes that veterans already enrolled in VA health care can contact their local VA medical facility to receive care under Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012. Veterans not enrolled may apply for VA health care benefits by completing VA form online, by calling toll-free 1-877-222-8387 or in person at their local VA medical care facility.

Three other resources for the Camp Lejeune water contamination:

1. The VA Camp Lejeune water contamination website
2. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry website.
3. The US Marine Corps FAQ information site

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