title: Diseases Associated With Exposure to Contaminants in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune. Final rule.
abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its adjudication regulations regarding presumptive service connection, adding certain diseases associated with contaminants present in the base water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North Carolina, from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. This final rule establishes that veterans, former reservists, and former National Guard members, who served at Camp Lejeune for no less 
  than 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) during this period, and who have been diagnosed with any of eight associated diseases, are presumed to have incurred or aggravated the disease in service for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits. In addition, this final rule establishes a presumption that these individuals were disabled during the relevant period of service for purposes of establishing active military service for benefits purposes. Under this presumption, affected former reservists and National Guard members have veteran status for purposes of entitlement to some VA benefits. This amendment 
  implements a decision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that service connection on a presumptive basis is warranted for claimants who served 
  at Camp Lejeune during the relevant period and for the requisite amount of time and later develop certain diseases.
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000209:etiology; D058749:Military Facilities; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009657:North Carolina; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D058014:Veterans Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014873:Water Pollutants