Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water
Veterans and family members exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have presumptive conditions for VA benefits, plus a separate court claim path under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River was contaminated with industrial solvents between 1953 and 1987. Veterans who served there for at least 30 cumulative days during that window have presumptive conditions for VA disability benefits.
Separately, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 created a court claim (filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina) for veterans, family members, and others harmed by the water. That tort path is distinct from VA disability benefits, and you may pursue both.
Who and where is covered
- Service at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
- Family members who lived there during that window may qualify for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (reimbursement of out of pocket costs) and the Justice Act court claim.
Presumptive conditions on this site
Each opens its 38 CFR rating criteria. A listing here is not a promise of service connection; you still need a current diagnosis and qualifying service.
Start the claim
Because these conditions are presumptive, you file like any disability claim and identify the exposure. VA also offers a free Toxic Exposure Screening to enrolled veterans.
- VA Form 21-526EZ (disability compensation). Claim a Camp Lejeune presumptive condition.
- VA Form 10-10068 (CLFMP). Camp Lejeune Family Member Program reimbursement.
Related reading
Three VA programs cover children of veterans born with certain birth defects: Agent Orange spina bifida (Vietnam, Korea DMZ, Thailand), the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) program for 18 covered birth defects, and the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (CLFMP) for in utero exposure. Each pays its own benefit, has its own form, and routes through the Denver Regional Office.
VA recognizes that certain illnesses are presumed service connected for veterans with qualifying service in specific times, places, or duty assignments. This guide walks every active presumptive category, what it covers, and the rule cites.
The military wrote down what was in the air, water, and soil at bases around the world, across decades of operations, monitoring that runs from the 1990s to today. POEMS, ILER, and a 2010 VA guidance document called Training Letter 10-03 can supply real exposure evidence, especially for conditions that are not presumptive. Here is what each one is, how to use it, and where to find it.
Put a new rating to work
Common questions
Who qualifies for Camp Lejeune presumptive benefits?
Veterans, including reservists and guardsmen, who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. The 30 days do not have to be consecutive. Qualifying service plus a current diagnosis of a covered condition triggers the presumption.
What conditions are presumptive for Camp Lejeune water exposure?
VA lists eight presumptive conditions for the contaminated water: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease. Other conditions linked to the solvents can still be claimed with medical evidence; they are just not automatic.
What was in the water at Camp Lejeune?
Drinking water systems serving base housing and workspaces were contaminated with industrial solvents between 1953 and 1987, primarily trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), along with benzene and vinyl chloride.
Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act the same as VA benefits?
No. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 created a separate court claim, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, for veterans, family members, and others harmed by the water. That tort path is distinct from VA disability benefits, and you may pursue both.
Can family members get help?
Yes. Family members who lived at Camp Lejeune during the covered window may qualify for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program, which reimburses out of pocket health care costs for covered conditions (VA Form 10-10068), and they may also bring a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.