Quick Guide to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act expanded benefits to Veterans and civilians exposed to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina. This Quick Guide explains the disability and health care benefits available, who qualifies for benefits, how the Camp Lejeune Justice Act added new benefits, and how to access those benefits.

VA Disability Benefits

Who Qualifies: Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members may be eligible for VA disability compensation benefits, if:

• You lived at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River,
•  for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987,
•  you did not receive a dishonorable discharge when you separated from the military, and
• you have one or more of these presumptive medical conditions:
  • adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease
  • Note: having a presumptive medical condition means that you do not have to prove that the medical condition as connected to your service

How to File:
You can file for disability benefits online here . You can also call the VA at 800-698-2411 or file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained, accredited representative. Find an accredited representative here .

VA Health Care

Who Qualifies:
If you meet the service requirement for Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible to enroll in VA Health Care without co-pays, if you have any of these medical conditions: bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, kidney cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, renal toxicity, scleroderma.Note: if you also get VA health care for other conditions that aren’t on this list, you may need to pay co-pays for care related to those conditions.
The VA also pays for or reimburses health care costs related to certain conditions for family members who meet these requirements:

• be or have been a family member (meaning the birth or adopted child, married spouse, or otherwise a legal dependent) of a Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, and
•  have lived (or have been in utero while your mother lived) at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and
• apply for and be approved for benefits under current law
  The VA may pay for care or reimburse health care costs related to these medical conditions: bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, kidney cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, renal toxicity, scleroderma

How to File:
To apply for these family benefits, complete this form.
and mail or fax it to the VA. For help, call 866-372-1144. To get reimbursed for health care costs, complete this form  and provide receipts.

Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA)

The PACT Act of 2022 improved access to health care and disability benefits for Veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service and, as a result, developed serious medical conditions. Section 804 of the PACT Act, also called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, builds upon the benefits already available. The CLJA allows individuals exposed to the contaminated water to file for financial relief.
Who Qualifies:
You can file for financial relief if either of these are true:

•  You lived, worked, or were otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, or
• Your mother lived, worked, or was otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, while pregnant with you

How to File: You (or your legal representative) must first file a CLJA administrative claim with the U.S. Department of the Navy. The Navy has six months to approve or reject your claim. If the Navy accepts your claim and you accept the compensation the Navy offers you, then you waive your right to file a lawsuit.

If the Navy rejects your claim, or if it takes more than six months to process it, you can file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to receive monetary compensation (called “damages”) for the harm resulting from your medical condition. Lawsuits under the Act must be filed before August 11, 2024. Get directions on how to complete a claim form here .

Filing a Claim Under the Elective Option

Those who file claims with the Navy, who have certain qualifying medical conditions, may be eligible for faster claims decisions under the Elective Option (EO). The amount of money an individual can receive under the EO depends on whether they have a Tier 1 or a Tier 2 medical condition and how long they were exposed to the contaminated water:

• Tier 1 conditions: kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemias, bladder cancer
• Tier 2 conditions: multiple myeloma, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease / end stage renal disease, systemic sclerosis / systemic scleroderma
• In addition, claims that show a medical condition that resulted in death will be offered an additional $100,000.
  • The maximum possible EO offer is $550,000 (= Tier 1 Qualifying Injury with more than 5 years of exposure, resulting in death).
    Individuals who accept a settlement under the EO option are guaranteed payment.

Individuals who accept an EO settlement can expect to receive payment within 60 days or less. For more information about the EO option, visit this site .

Note: You may see ads about filing lawsuits for these benefits. You do not need to hire an attorney to file a CLJA claim. Keep in mind that it also may not be in your best interests to file a lawsuit. You should weigh your options carefully when deciding whether to file a claim or file a lawsuit. CLJA claims are separate from claims for VA disability benefits, and will not affect VA disability or health care benefits.

For more information and to complete the claim form, visit www.navy.mil/clja .

For more information about resources for Veterans, visit TriageCancer.org/Military-Veterans-Cancer

For more health insurance information, explore our free materials and resources for the military .

Last reviewed for updates: 02/2024

Disclaimer: This handout is intended to provide general information on the topics presented. It is provided with the understanding that Triage Cancer is not engaged in rendering any legal, medical, or professional services by its publication or distribution. Although this content was reviewed by a professional, it should not be used as a substitute for professional services. © Triage Cancer 2024

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