Under New PACT Act, Veterans May Get Compensation

On August 10, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the “Sergeant First Class Health Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022” or “Honoring our PACT Act of 2022” (“PAD Act”), which includes The Camp Lejeune Act (S.3373) along with other initiatives pertaining to toxic exposures related to military service. The new measure signed into law empowers service members and family members to seek justice against the U.S. Government for harm caused by at least thirty days of exposure (including in utero exposure) to highly contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. The contaminated water, which was used for cooking, drinking and bathing, could impact the health of all those that lived, worked or served at Camp Lejeune. Common injuries, diseases and illnesses resulting from the contamination include various cancers, miscarriage, leukemia, Parkinson’s Disease, and birth defects.

The PAD Act also expands health care benefits to millions of veterans and family members exposed to toxic burn pits during their military service. Burn pits were commonly used to burn waste – including trash, munitions, hazardous material and chemical compounds – at military sites throughout Iraq and Afghanistan until about 2010.

As a result, veterans and family members can file a claim for health and disability benefits however, must submit evidence of their illness or injuries when applying for benefits.

LWLRIS can help veterans and family members or their attorneys gather medical records or hospital reports showing current illnesses or injuries related to Camp Lejeune to expedite the reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses or disability application process.

LWLRIS can gather medical records or hospital reports showing one of the fifteen (15) qualifying health conditions for reimbursement or eight (8) presumptive service conditions that The Department of Veterans Affairs has determined there is sufficient scientific and medical evidence to support presumption applies.

Qualifying Health 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

Presumptive Service Conditions: 

• Adult Leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Bladder Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Parkinson’s Disease