What these claims are about
The drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with industrial solvents over a period of decades. Federal legislation passed in 2022 created a route for people exposed there to bring claims that had previously been barred.
The conditions being connected to that exposure are set out in the claims process, and whether any individual illness qualifies is decided on the medical evidence.
Who tends to be affected
Anyone who lived, worked or served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for at least thirty days between August 1953 and December 1987 — service members, civilian staff, contractors, and family members who lived on base.
Family members are included. Claims have been brought by spouses and by people who were children on the base, including for illnesses connected to exposure before birth.
What helps a claim
You do not need any of this to talk to us — start with what you know and we will work out the rest. But these are the things that make a claim easier to evaluate, and they are worth gathering while you can.
- The years you were there, and in what capacity
- Military service records, or employment records for civilian staff
- Base housing records if you or your family lived on base
- Your diagnosis and roughly when it was made
- Medical records for the condition
- For a family claim, records connecting you to the person who served
Questions people ask about this claim
I was a child there. Can I claim?
Family members who lived on the base are included, and claims have been brought by people who were children at the time. Tell us the years and we will go from there.
My relative served there and has since died.
A claim may still be possible through their estate. It is a different process and it has its own requirements, so say so at the start.
Does a VA claim rule this out?
No. They are separate routes and having one does not automatically remove the other.
What does it cost to ask?
Nothing. The review and the call are free, and the law firms in these cases generally work on a contingency basis, meaning their fee comes from a recovery rather than from you up front. Get the terms in writing before you sign anything.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
It depends on your state and on the type of claim, and in some cases the clock starts when you found out you were harmed rather than when it happened. That is genuinely worth asking about rather than assuming. Contacting us does not pause any deadline.
What if I am not sure I qualify?
Then ask. Working that out is the point of the review, it costs nothing, and if we do not think you have a claim we will tell you so.
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