New disability guidelines for Camp Lejeune Marines affected by toxic tap water
ABC 12 News
By Valentina Wilson
POSTED:Aug 04 2015
The Department of Veterans affairs will begin reviewing the disability status of Marines affected by toxic tap water at Camp Lejeune. Marines were exposed to tainted drinking water on base for more than 30 years -- from 1953 to 1987 -- and developed cancers and other conditions.
The VA already provides medical care for affected Marines with 15 different illnesses. Now the agency will establish presumptive status for veterans who lived on base during the time the water was contaminated. That means if veterans have a disease that falls under any of the approved categories, they'll get the benefit of the doubt instead of having to prove the water on base caused the problem.
The commander of the Disabled American Veterans chapter in Jacksonville, Jim Davis, said the bottom line is -- more veterans could qualify for benefits.
"What it will do is allow the veterans who were denied before -- due to it not being service connected or not enough proof -- to, if it falls under one of the presumptive diseases, they'll be allowed to apply and get approved for benefits," Davis said.
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