Did Camp Lejeune’s Water Cause Parkinson’s Disease?
The link between the water at Camp Lejeune and Parkinson’s disease was proven by medical and scientific research. Therefore, the water contamination at Camp Lejeune did indeed cause many cases of Parkinson’s. This led to many untimely deaths.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurobehavioral disorder. It attacks the brain and causes uncontrollable movement. This includes shaking and stiffness. It also makes coordination and balance much harder. Symptoms do not start at once; they begin slowly and increase over time. In more serious cases of Parkinson’s, some may even have trouble walking or talking. Anyone who was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 is urged to file a lawsuit right away.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed in August 2022. It hereby states that anyone with proof of illness in relation to Camp Lejeune, including Parkinson’s Disease, is eligible to sue the US government and gain financial compensation. Once this law was passed, many began filing claims. As it were, it is estimated that over one million people were directly affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
As per this Act, a claimant will have exactly two years from the date of its signing in order to file their claim. Thus, the deadline for submission is August 2024. However, people are urged to act as soon as possible. This is because the sooner a claim is made, the sooner the payout will be.
VA Benefits
Anyone with proof, such as medical records, of one of the VA presumptive conditions (including Parkinson’s disease) is also entitled to health care and monetary benefits as pertaining to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022. Since the CLJA was passed under the Honoring Our PACT Act, the following people are also entitled to VA benefits:
- People who were exposed to Agent Orange
- People who were exposed to burn pits
- People who were exposed to toxic substances
Now that we have covered who is qualified to get benefits under this Act, let us discuss how one can actually request these benefits. The first step to take is to file a VA benefits claim. It is quite simple to file a claim. You can either submit it online at VA.gov or in person at any VA office. You may also contact a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) to help you with any trouble.
Camp Lejeune veterans have been filing for VA benefits claims since 2017. Five years later, justice was served. If you know that you are qualified to file a claim, the only thing left to do is file that claim.
Read more about the health issues and Camp Lejeune diseases here.