Between the 1950s and 1980s, drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River in North Carolina was contaminated with industrial solvents. The VA now presumes service connection for a specific list of conditions in veterans who served there.
This guide covers what the VA publishes about that presumption. For the general framework, see our presumptive conditions overview.
Who qualifies
The VA's Camp Lejeune page sets the requirement at 30 cumulative days of service at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. Active duty service members, reservists, and National Guard members are all covered.
The presumed conditions
The VA presumes service connection for these eight conditions:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service.
Conditions not on the list
The VA also provides health care for a longer list of conditions tied to Camp Lejeune, which is not the same as disability compensation. A condition outside the presumptive list can still be claimed on a direct basis under 38 CFR 3.303, where the medical evidence in the file carries the claim - see our guide on when a presumptive claim still needs medical evidence.
This guide is educational. It summarizes the VA's own published rules and links to the exact sources it relies on. It is not legal or claims advice, and it is not a substitute for an accredited representative, who can advise you about your specific claim. Accredited help is free - search the VA's accreditation database to find a Veterans Service Organization, accredited agent, or attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What service period does the VA use for Camp Lejeune?
The VA covers veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
Which conditions are presumed?
The VA presumes service connection for adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease.
Is this the same thing as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit?
No. VA disability compensation and the separate federal court claims created by the Camp Lejeune Justice Act are different processes with different rules.