VETERANS PRESS: Are you clear on the Camp Lejeune ads?
You’ve heard those ads many times if you spend 30 minutes a day or more watching television. You know the commercial, “If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you were likely exposed to toxin contaminated drinking water…You may be able to qualify for significant compensation for your medical costs or if you’ve lost loved ones.”
The commercials sound enticing and fuel the desire to get something immediately without having to do anything…they’ll take care of everything. You might end up receiving some kind of settlement or dividend, but then both the VA and the lawyers will likely end up with most of what has been set aside for you. Attorney fees eat up more than what you can imagine. This may not be totally accurate but consider the following.
On Aug. 10, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. There were chemicals like Benzene and other industrial solvents which were dumped into the Camp LeJeune drains that worked its way to the aquafers and into the drinking, cooking and showering waters. The VA has already determined eight presumptive conditions associated with the water: Leukemia, aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease. If you are diagnosed with one or more of them, you can be service-connected rated and receive compensation for the rest of your life. And if you are married for more than one year at the time of your passing, your spouse can apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
While the lawsuit sounds like it will only take a few months, it could end up taking four or more years. Yes, you can join the class action lawsuit to sue the government, but what are all the ramifications of that and how does it affect potential benefits that you could get from the VA? How long would it take to sue the government and what kind of lawyers will the government use to prevent the class action from happening? If you are awarded, would you really get anything? Those answers are not known. Are the offers from the commercials and representatives answering your questions going to give you all the information you need to know? I cannot honestly know the answer to that question.
Additionally, if you are awarded through the lawsuit, would you have to pay back benefits related to those conditions if awarded by the VA in the future? If you are married, would your spouse be able to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)?
Before I would sign a retainer, I’d want to get an objective second opinion. I’d want to not be quick to sign up but find out when the last opportunity would be to sign up. I’d want to strongly consider just going through the VA system already set up by the government.
You’ve already heard the slick, fast-talking commercials paid for by attorneys that have one thing in mind — $. I, in no way, know the character of any of the attorneys. They may ALL be upright and provide you excellent service. However, you do have Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) who are paid by your counties to serve veterans, but do not receive any extra percentage if the veteran is awarded except the satisfaction of “serving America’s veterans, one hero at a time.” Check the listing of VSOs in our area and give them a call to set up an appointment. We are here to serve you.
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Bryan J. Hult is a Bonner County Veterans Service Officer, 1500 Highway 2, Ste 122, Sandpoint, ID 83864. He can be reached at 208-255-5291, bryan.hult@bonnercountyid.gov. Serving Bonner County Veterans, one hero at a time.