What Documents Do I Need to Prove a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for more than 30 years. These VOCs have since been linked to serious illnesses and health effects, leaving veterans and their families on the hook for medical bills. One question those who may be eligible to file a claim might be wondering is what documents are needed to prove the presence of a potential lawsuit.

In general, the more documents you have to support your claim, the stronger it will be. Our lawyers utilize the information contained in your military service records, medical records, and more to construct a solid foundation upon which we can build your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.

Who Is Eligible for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

If you were stationed at or lived on Camp Lejeune for a period of at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 and have since become sick, or were born with a birth defect after your parents served there, you may be eligible for compensation.

While exposure occurred primarily through ingesting the water while drinking, health experts have also linked washing hands, showering, bathing, and cooking as sources of exposure. These types of activities occurred at:

• Enlisted-family housing
• Barracks for unmarried Marines
• Recreation sites
• Administrative offices
• Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune

Military Service Records (DD Form 214)

Perhaps the most important document you will need for your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is your DD Form 214, also called DD214. This document is a record of your military service and contains the following information:

• Date and place of your enlistment
• Duty stations and dates
• Medals, decorations, and campaign awards
• Qualifications, performance, and training
• Administrative remarks
• Disciplinary actions
• Military education
• Total creditable service
• Last duty station and rank
• Date of separation from the military
• Type of separation (honorable or dishonorable)
• Reason for separation

DD Form 214 is an invaluable document in a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit as it will clearly list when you were stationed at Camp Lejeune as well as the dates. If you do not have your DD Form 214 or have lost your copy, you may request another copy of your military service records in the following ways:

• Submit a request on milConnect
• Fax or mail a written request to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
• Visit the NPRC in person
• Contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Contact your local county or state veteran’s agency

Housing Records

Any document that proves you lived in Camp Lejeune’s enlisted-family housing or the barracks will play a vital role in your lawsuit. This information is not contained in your DD Form 214. Instead, you’ll need leasing agreements to show that you or your loved one lived on base between 1953 and 1987. If you do not have a copy of your leasing agreement you may contact the leasing agency directly to inquire about records.

If you are unable to find your leasing agreement and the leasing agency does not have a copy, go back through your records to see if you have any official documents that list your home address as being on Camp Lejeune. Your lawyer may be able to use some of the following to prove that you lived on base during the dates of contamination and exposure:

• Insurance information
• School enrollment documents for children
• Bills

Medical Records

To successfully file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, you must not only prove that you were there while the water was contaminated, but that you were harmed as a result of that exposure. Medical records are an invaluable resource for this. At Thomas Law Offices, we often partner with health care experts to properly analyze the contents of our clients’ medical records as we look for:

• Documented symptoms
• Test and imaging results
• Diagnoses
• Prescribed medications
• Treatments and surgical interventions

Unfortunately, exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, vinyl chloride, and other VOCs via Camp Lejeune’s drinking water has been linked to a significant number of adverse health conditions, including:

• A variety of cancers
• Cardiac defects
• Birth defects
• Miscarriage and fetal death
• End-stage renal disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Impaired immune system functioning
• Neurological effects
• Aplastic anemia
• Liver cirrhosis

If you developed an illness, disease, or serious health condition after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, or if your child was born with a birth defect, your medical records will help build a case that proves how you were harmed.

What To Do With Your Documents During a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

You should provide copies of your DD Form 214, housing records, and medical records to your attorney, who has the expertise and knowledge necessary to review these documents for relevant information. At Thomas Law Offices, we pride ourselves on how thoroughly we examine every piece of evidence our clients provide us, because we know how important it is to utilize every possible piece of supporting information.

The information contained within your supporting documents will be invaluable as you seek compensation for things like:

• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish

Get Started on Your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Today

You have only a limited time to take action with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. With the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act and the provision for the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you will have only two years to file your lawsuit before it is consolidated with other claims in a process similar to mass tort personal injury claims.

Do not forfeit your right to compensation—contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation so that we can establish the merits of your claim.