U.S. agrees to pay billions to Marines affected by toxic water

[douglas9]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has agreed to provide disability benefits totaling more than $2 billion to veterans who had been exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

The decision was quietly made public Thursday with a notice in the Federal Register, the government's official journal.

Beginning in March, the cash payouts from the Department of Veterans Affairs may supplement VA health care already being provided to eligible veterans stationed at the Marine base for at least 30 days cumulative between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Veterans will have to submit evidence of their diagnosis and service information.

Outgoing VA Secretary Bob McDonald determined that there was "sufficient scientific and medical evidence" to establish a connection between exposure to the contaminated water and eight medical conditions for purposes of awarding disability compensation.

The estimated taxpayer cost is $2.2 billion over a five-year period. The VA estimates that as many as 900,000 service members were potentially exposed to the tainted water.



https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/us-agrees-to-pay-billions-to-marines-affected-by-toxic-water

[Berlin Vet]

1. Dependents?

I read the link and saw no mention of anything for the dependents that drank, bathed and cooked with the same water. Hopefully something will be done for them.

[douglas9]

2. Diseases Associated With Exposure to Contaminants in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune (1.13.17)

L. Benefits for Family Members or Civilians

VA received 11 comments, including an organizational comment from the United Parkinson's Advocacy Council, stating that family members or civilians who were exposed to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune should receive disability compensation. VA notes that this rulemaking provides disability compensation for qualifying veterans, former reservists or National Guard members; benefits for family members or civilians are beyond the scope of the rulemaking and therefore VA will not respond to this comment. Additionally, VA notes that there is currently no statutory authority to provide benefits to the classes of people identified by the commenters.


https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/13/2017-00499/diseases-associated-with-exposure-to-contaminants-in-the-water-supply-at-camp-lejeune

[Berlin Vet]

3. Thank You

Thanks for the information.