The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday it will grant automatic benefits to veterans of Camp Lejeune if they suffer one of eight diseases, a decision that throws a lifeline to potentially thousands of people sickened by the base's formerly polluted drinking water.
The decision is a striking contrast to the VA's overall 93.5 percent denial rate of claims for health and disability benefits filed by veterans of the North Carolina Marine Corps base, VA figures show.
"This is good news," said Karl Saffell, 60, of Lithia, who served at the base from 1977 to 1979 and had a VA claim denied for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, one of the diseases now covered.
"I try not to say bad things. But the claims process has not been one that helps people. It's designed to make people leap barrels and overcome obstructions to get benefits."
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Wow. Good to know. I was there 80 - 84 and no problems yet. Knock on wood.
ReplyDeleteI have friends who have died because of the poisoning they experienced at the base as kids of active duty members. This was too long and too late, and there's nothing for the survivors, who watched their dads and husbands die ugly deaths. Nothing.
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