Will I Lose My VA Benefits if I Get a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Payout?

 Posted on September 23, 2022 in Personal Injury

Marines and their family members who served and worked at Camp Lejeune during certain years were exposed to dangerous levels of toxic substances in the drinking water on base. Many serious and even fatal illnesses have been associated with exposure to the water and the U.S. government has now made it easier to recover compensation for the suffering and medical expenses of Camp Lejeune victims. Some people who may be eligible for compensation may be worried that they will lose their Veterans Association (VA) benefits if they receive a Camp Lejeune settlement. 

Can I Get VA Disability Benefits and a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Settlement? 

Veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who have not been dishonorably discharged and who served at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River between August 1953 and December 1987 for at least 30 days may be eligible to receive disability benefits from the VA. Those seeking benefits must also have a diagnosis for one or more conditions, including: 

• Bladder, kidney, or liver cancer

• Adult leukemia

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Multiple myeloma

• Parkinson’s disease

• Aplastic anemia or another myelodysplastic syndrome

Benefits include health care for the above conditions and compensation in the form of payments and must be requested by filing a claim. 

In addition to VA disability benefits, veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who have been made ill by the Camp Lejeune water may also pursue compensation in a lawsuit. You can receive money from a lawsuit settlement, and it will not impact your VA disability compensation benefits because they are not dependent on income. 

It is important to distinguish VA disability pension benefits from VA disability compensation benefits. Pension benefits are dependent on income and can be affected by a settlement. Your disability benefits are an important part of your and your family’s financial stability, and it is important to understand the potential impact that a change of any kind could have on your future. If you are not sure whether you want to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim, be sure to work with a personal injury attorney familiar with the Camp Lejeune case who can help you weigh your options. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Illinois Camp Lejeune Injury Lawyer

Before you make any decisions about whether to pursue damages for injuries you suffered because of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, schedule a free consultation with Cook County Camp Lejeune injury attorney with Schwartz Injury Law. We will look at the evidence in your case and help you determine whether your other benefits could be jeopardized by a lawsuit payout. Call 708-226-9000 to schedule a free consultation. 

Source: 

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/