Camp Lejeune Marines Get Toxic Exposure Protection At Last! C-123 Veterans Helped!

WE HELPED! The example of the way VA addressed our Agent Orange toxic exposures in 2015 was looked at very carefully by the VA in its approach to the terrible water contamination problem at Camp Lejeune.

Late last year, acting on advice from the Institute of Medicine and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,  Secretary McDonald and the Department of Veterans Affairs proposed a series of protections for Marines and other personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987. Included are members of the Reserve Components serving there a minimum of 30 days in total. Compensation for their illnesses could reach several billions dollars.

I read the proposed new rules and on behalf of our association commented throughout as you will see in the summary copied from the Federal Register. We especially note the role of the ATSDR in helping Marines just as they helped us, and express our thanks to them for the great job done helping the Corps this day.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its adjudication regulations regarding presumptive service connection, adding certain diseases associated with contaminants present in the base water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North Carolina, from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. This final rule establishes that veterans, former reservists, and former National Guard members, who served at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) during this period, and who have been diagnosed with any of eight associated diseases, are presumed to have incurred or aggravated the disease in service for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits. In addition, this final rule establishes a presumption that these individuals were disabled during the relevant period of service for purposes of establishing active military service for benefits purposes. Under this presumption, affected former reservists and National Guard members have veteran status for purposes of entitlement to some VA benefits. This amendment implements a decision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that service connection on a presumptive basis is warranted for claimants who served at Camp Lejeune during the relevant period and for the requisite amount of time and later develop certain diseases.

CDC – ATSTR Again Addresses Camp Lejeune Drinking Water: New Report Released

(letters posted to Camp Lejeune stakeholders about drinking water contamination saga) Dear Sir or Ma'am:

On December 4, 2013 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) "Evaluation of exposure to contaminated drinking water and specific birth defects and childhood cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case--control study" was published (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/update.html). You will receive a hard copy of the ATSDR fact sheet summarizing the results of this study in the mail in the coming weeks. ATSDR's study evaluated whether or not maternal exposures to drinking water containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Camp Lejeune increased the risk of certain health conditions. The study used ATSDR's previous water modeling efforts to estimate past exposures (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/watermodeling.html). VOCs were commonly used as solvents for cleaning machinery and weapons, for dry cleaning, and some are found in fuels. This study is the first of several health initiatives that ATSDR is expected to complete in the next several years. For more information about these studies, visit http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/ or call (800) 232-4636 . Since 1991, the Marine Corps has supported the health initiatives conducted by various scientific agencies. We are also working diligently to identify and notify individuals who, in the past, may have been exposed to the chemicals in drinking water. For more information about these efforts or to update your contact information, please see:http://www.marines.mil/clwater/, call  (877) 261-9782  or e-mailclwater@usmc.mil. For the complete report and for information about studies being conducted by ATSDR, visit http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/ or call  (800) 232-4636 . To contact Veterans Affairs to learn more about health care benefits, please visit http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/or call  (877) 222-8387  (Healthcare) or  (800) 827-1000  (Benefits).  Sincerely,            /signed//        The Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Program