Camp Lejeune Lawsuit: A Plain-English Guide for Veterans and Families
By Jordan Reyes, Editorial · Reviewed by: Pending Veterans Affairs Editorial Reviewer Recruitment · Last reviewed: May 15, 2026
This page is editorial and informational. It is not legal advice.
To explore your eligibility, consult a VA-accredited attorney through the VA’s official accreditation search at va.gov.
The water at Camp Lejeune was bad for about 34 years. Roughly one million people drank it or used it for cooking and bathing. In 2022, Congress passed the Honoring Our PACT Act. Inside that law was the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. It opened a civil claim path for people harmed by the water.
This page is the starting point. It is not a sales pitch. It does not rank lawyers. It walks through what happened, who is covered, where things stand right now, and where to go next.
Jump to a related guide
What Happened at Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base in eastern North Carolina. From August 1953 through December 1987, two of the base water plants pulled water that was full of toxic chemicals. The chemicals came from fuel leaks, off-base dry cleaning runoff, and on-base spills.
The main toxins in the water were trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride. These are known or likely human carcinogens. The CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has reviewed the exposure in its public toxicological profiles.
Service members, civilian workers, and family members who lived in base housing drank that water for years. Some for a few months. Some for over a decade. The total exposed group is around one million people.
The PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 into law. The full law deals with many kinds of toxic exposure. One part of it is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
Before this law, a court ruling had blocked most Camp Lejeune lawsuits. The new law removed that block. It gave a two-year window to file a federal civil claim. The window opened on August 10, 2022 and closed on August 10, 2024.
Claims must first be filed with the Department of the Navy Judge Advocate General. If the Navy does not resolve the claim in six months, the person can file in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Who the Law Covers
The law covers three groups. The person must have spent at least 30 cumulative days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
- Service members of any branch who were stationed at Camp Lejeune.
- Civilian workers who were employed on base.
- Family members who lived in base housing.
Children who were exposed in the womb during this window are also covered. The estate of a person who has since died can also bring a claim.
For a full checklist, see our Camp Lejeune eligibility criteria page.
Where Things Stand Now
The two-year filing window has closed. The Department of the Navy and the Department of Justice are working through a large backlog of claims. In 2024, the DOJ rolled out the Elective Option. It is a fast-track settlement program for people with certain conditions and exposure histories.
A person with a pending claim can accept an Elective Option offer, reject it, or wait for court. Many cases are still moving slowly. The Eastern District of North Carolina court is handling pretrial steps for thousands of cases at once.
For the latest, see our Camp Lejeune lawsuit update for 2026. We refresh it monthly.
What to Do Next
- 1
Check the dates and the covered conditions.
Read the eligibility checklist to see if your time on base and your condition match.
- 2
Talk to a VA-accredited attorney.
The VA keeps an official search tool. Use it.
Find a VA-accredited attorney - 3
Pull your service and medical records.
You will need proof of time on base and proof of your health condition. Both come from official records.
- 4
Think about your water now.
If you live near a former military base, you may still have PFAS in your tap water. Our sister site has a guide on what to do.
What is PFAS? (pfasfilterguide.com)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
It is a civil claim path. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 lets people who lived or worked at the base file a claim for harm caused by the water. The water at Camp Lejeune had toxic chemicals from 1953 to 1987. The law is part of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022.
Is this the same as a VA disability claim?
No. A VA claim is for benefits paid by the VA. A Camp Lejeune claim is a civil case filed through the Department of the Navy and the federal court in North Carolina. You can pursue both. The two are tracked apart.
Who can file a claim?
People who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 may qualify. This includes service members, civilian workers, and family members. The person must have a health condition linked to the water. The VA lists the conditions on va.gov.
What is the deadline to file?
The two-year window to file new claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act closed on August 10, 2024. Claims filed before that date are still being worked through the Department of the Navy and the federal court.
What is the Elective Option?
It is a settlement track set up by the Department of Justice in 2024. It pays set ranges for some conditions. The DOJ press release lists the tier structure. You can accept it or reject it and go to court. The DOJ has published the official ranges.
Do I need a lawyer?
You can file on your own. Many people use a lawyer who knows federal tort and military claims. The VA keeps a list of accredited attorneys at va.gov. We are an editorial site. We do not refer or rank firms.
How long does the process take?
It varies. Some Elective Option offers move in months. Court cases can take longer. The Department of the Navy and the DOJ are still working through a large backlog as of May 2026.
Does this site help me file a claim?
No. We are editorial. We explain what the law says and where to find official help. To file or check your case, use va.gov or work with a VA-accredited attorney.
Primary Sources
This page is editorial and informational. It is not legal or medical advice. For legal questions, consult a VA-accredited attorney through the VA’s official accreditation search at va.gov.