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Camp Lejeune veterans eligible for disability

NEW ULM — The US Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing to grant disability benefits for eight diseases for any active-duty, reserve or National Guard personnel who served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987.

Widows of these service personnel who died as a result of being afflicted with these diseases will also be eligible for death benefits, including a monthly stipend of approximately $1,250 and possible free health insurance for life.

The diseases are: 1. Adult leukemia. 2. Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes. 3. Bladder cancer. 4. Kidney cancer. 5. Liver cancer. 6. Multiple myeloma. 7. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 8. Parkinson’s disease.

In the early 1980s, volatile organic compounds, trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal degreaser, and perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry cleaning agent, as well as benzene and vinyl chloride, were discovered in two on-base water supply systems at Camp Lejeune. The contaminated wells supplying the water systems were shut down in February 1985.

The area included in this presumption is all of Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River, including satellite camps and housing areas.

The proposed rule will become effective 60 days from the Jan. 13  proposal or 60 days after final congressional review.

Service personnel and widows/widowers who meet the 30-day at Camp Lejeune requirement and have been diagnosed with a listed condition are encouraged to contact their county Veterans Service officer immediately for application information. Minnesota officers can be found at this website: www.macvso.org.

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