About 18,000 Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claims Could Be Paid By The End Of The Year

Those currently receiving VA benefits automatically qualify for a lump sum of up to $550,000 without affecting current their income

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 - The new elective option allows military veterans the ability to receive a one-time lump sum of up to $450,000 if they have been diagnosed with one of about 15 different illnesses that are presumed to have been caused by drinking contaminated tap water at Camp Lejeune. Accepting the Navy's offer of the elective amount precluded one from filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit seeking further retribution. Accepting the lump sum will not affect those who are currently receiving benefits regarding a Camp Lejeune water contamination-related illness. Those who are currently receiving benefits automatically qualify for the lump sum as the connection between their illness and drinking contaminated water on the base has already been established. Regarding the elective option, Navy.mil writes, "Certain claimants who have previously received healthcare or disability benefits related to Camp Lejeune from the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") may rely on those benefits to establish eligibility for an EO offer." In addition, those who file a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit may also keep receiving benefits. According to VA.gov, "Will seeking relief under the CLJA impact my VA benefits or health care? Your VA compensation benefits or health care services will not be impacted if you file a lawsuit. If you are awarded relief from a CLJA lawsuit, your VA benefits will not be reduced, and your eligibility for other VA benefits or services will not be affected."

While receiving VA benefits may be all the proof one needs, some may be required to submit additional documents to show the time spent at Camp Lejeune. The elective option, like the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in general, requires one to have been on the base for at least 31 days from 1953 to 1987 during which time they drank, cooked with, bathed in, or swam in the water there. A claimant must provide additional documentation to establish that one was at Camp Lejeune. According to one law firm specializing in Camp Lejeune water contamination, those requirements include Camp Lejeune housing or employment documentation, military service records, tax returns, driver's licenses, pay stubs, or employment contracts. The Department of the Navy is in the process of reviewing more than 100,000 initial Camp Lejeune water contamination claims and will be making an offer to about 18,000 claimants before the end of the year according to the Navy. Thousands of devoted service members, along with their families and civilian colleagues residing and working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, were exposed to hazardous chemicals in their drinking water, posing a significant risk of cancer and other severe illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and reproductive problems. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act provides the opportunity to seek the compensation necessary and rightfully deserved for this profound injustice.

Information provided by CampLejeuneJusticeActClaim.com, a website devoted to providing news about Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim, including a free no-cost, no-obligation Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim.