Noteboom The Law Firm

No Link Between Water And Illnesses According to VA

September 21, 2010 - Poisonous chemicals and jet fuel contaminated the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, N.C. for decades. Over that period of time, it is safe to assume hundreds of thousands of Marines and their families were exposed to the toxins. To date, however, only 200 veterans have appealed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ask for a link between their illnesses and the poisons in the drinking water. The VA has only agreed to do so in 20 very limited circumstances.

Last week a VA official told Congress there was no connection between the cancers and other illnesses former base residents have developed and the contaminated drinking water; at least not a connection that can be proven through modern science. The VA did not deny the presence of the severely polluted water, but they did go onto say it is far too early to start attempting to create presumptive diseases.

The VA has been handling every claim on a case-by-case review. Meanwhile, potentially thousands of Marines and their families suffer from rare cancers and other diseases without the ability to be awarded disability compensation. 

The science to connect the polluted water to these health conditions may or may not exist, depending on who you ask. Trichloroethylene (TCE) existed in massive and enormous amounts at Camp Lejeune and there have been scientific studies since the 1980's proving exposure to TCE can cause cancer. Yet to date, the VA does not recognize a presumption. Studies are ongoing, however, and if a link exists, it will be discovered.