If you served at Camp Lejeune (or MCAS New River) for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, VA presumes eight conditions are service-connected from the contaminated water — no need to prove the link. That VA disability path has no filing deadline. It's separate from the Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit, whose filing window closed August 10, 2024.
Straight talk first
Two different things wear the same name here, and people mix them up constantly — so let's be clear, because one door is still open and one is shut. The VA disability path is monthly compensation from the VA for eight presumptive conditions, and you can still file it today. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was a separate lawsuit against the government, and its filing window closed in August 2024. If you've got one of the eight conditions and the qualifying service, the VA door is open regardless.
This is the Camp-Lejeune-specific cut of the framework on VA presumptive conditions.
The VA disability presumptive (still open)
Who qualifies: veterans, reservists, and Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, NC, for 30 days or more (total) between Aug 1, 1953 and Dec 31, 1987, and weren't dishonorably discharged.
The eight presumptive conditions:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
With a current diagnosis of one of these and the qualifying service, VA presumes service connection — and there's no deadline to file.
What you still have to do
- Show 30+ days total at Camp Lejeune/MCAS New River in the covered window (military/personnel records).
- Have a current diagnosis of one of the eight conditions (medical records).
- File the VA disability claim and identify the Camp Lejeune presumptive.
If your condition isn't one of the eight, you may still file a direct claim tying it to the water exposure — see how to file your own claim.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (lawsuit window closed)
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 opened a separate path: a lawsuit against the federal government for harm from the contaminated water, for those who lived or worked there at least 30 days in the covered period. It had a two-year filing window that closed on August 10, 2024, and new claims are no longer accepted. Filing it did not reduce VA benefits — but as a path it's now shut.
Because today's date is past that deadline, the VA disability presumptive is the live path for most veterans now — and it never closes.
Rating and the bigger picture
A presumptive Camp Lejeune condition is rated under its applicable criteria and combines with your other ratings — see the VA Combined Rating Calculator. Serious illness can also support a mental health secondary, and if it keeps you from working, read about TDIU.
Key takeaways
- 30+ days at Camp Lejeune/MCAS New River between Aug 1, 1953 and Dec 31, 1987 → VA presumes eight conditions service-connected.
- The VA disability path has no filing deadline — it's still open.
- The Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit was separate and its window closed Aug 10, 2024.
- You still need proof of qualifying service, a current diagnosis, and a filed claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for Camp Lejeune VA disability benefits?
- Veterans, reservists, and Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, North Carolina, for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and who weren't dishonorably discharged. With one of the eight presumptive conditions, VA presumes service connection.
- What are the eight Camp Lejeune presumptive conditions?
- Adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease. These are presumed service-connected for VA disability purposes.
- Is there a deadline to file the VA disability claim?
- No. The VA disability presumptive has no filing deadline — you can file at any time. That's different from the Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit, whose two-year filing window closed on August 10, 2024.
- What's the difference between VA disability and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
- VA disability is monthly compensation from the VA for presumptive conditions, with no filing deadline. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was a separate lawsuit against the federal government for harm from the water; its filing window closed August 10, 2024. Filing the lawsuit did not reduce VA benefits.
Sources
- VA — Camp Lejeune water contamination health issues: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/
- VA Public Health — Camp Lejeune: past water contamination: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/
- Federal Register — Diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/13/2017-00499/diseases-associated-with-exposure-to-contaminants-in-the-water-supply-at-camp-lejeune
