Camp Lejeune Hypersensitive Skin Disorder Lawsuit

Hypersensitive Skin Disorder Linked to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

During the early 80s, various agencies — including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) — discovered traces of various chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Camp Lejeune’s water supply.

VOCs in the Camp Lejeune water supply have led many Camp Lejeune residents and their family members to develop hypersensitivite skin conditions.

The sheer number of Camp Lejeune victims who have developed these conditions indicates that VOC exposure may increase the risk for people to develop hypersensitive skin disorders.

Various pieces of scientific and medical evidence link certain VOCs to hypersensitive skin disorders.

One study identifies skin disorders as one of the many conditions caused by exposure to VOCs, particularly, trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

According to the study, the disorders of the skin result from the damage caused by TCE and PCE.

The damage causes a cascade of immune reactions that show up as hypersensitivite skin disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also had similar findings regarding exposure to TCE.

According to the CDC, prolonged TCE exposure can cause chemical burns on the skin.

More chronic exposure can lead to skin conditions ranging from scleroderma to hypersensitivity.

An earlier study found that TCE can cause generalized skin conditions whether it’s inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

If you’ve developed a hypersensitive skin disorder and were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible to join others in filing Camp Lejeune lawsuits.

Find out instantly if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune litigation by using the chatbot on this page.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

About Hypersensitive Skin Disorder

Hypersensitivity skin disorders are a group of conditions characterized by an exaggerated immune response to specific allergens or irritants.

These conditions result in various skin symptoms, including redness, itching, inflammation, and sometimes the formation of skin lesions or rashes.

There are several types of hypersensitivity skin disorders.

Disorders often caused by chemical exposure include the following:

• Contact Dermatitis
• Irritant Contact Dermatitis
• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
• Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD)

Hypersensitive Skin Disorder and its Causes

Hypersensitivity skin disorders can be due to factors like stress levels and genetics.

However, they may also occur because of environmental pollutants and chemical exposure.

A potential cause of hypersensitive skin disorder is chronic VOC exposure, particularly exposure to TCE, which is one of the VOCs that was found in Camp Lejeune’s contaminated drinking water.

Hypersensitive Skin Disorder Complications

Complications from hypersensitive skin disorders can be mild to severe.

Severity will depend on the type of skin disorder and the length of exposure to an irritant.

Here are some of the complications of hypersensitivity skin disorder:

• Infection: Hypersensitivity skin disorders cause breaks in the skin’s integrity. The damaged portions of the skin can become entry points for microorganisms.
• Scarring: Repeated scratching and inflammation can cause permanent skin damage and scarring in some individuals, especially with conditions like atopic dermatitis or chronic urticaria. This can affect the appearance and texture of the skin.
• Chronic Symptoms: Some hypersensitivity skin disorders — like atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria — can be chronic and recurrent, meaning that individuals may experience symptoms on an ongoing basis, which can affect their daily lives.
• Sleep disturbances: Itchy skin can disrupt sleep patterns. If left unmanaged, skin disorders can lead to fatigue and decreased overall well-being.
• Anaphylaxis (in severe cases): In extremely rare cases, severe allergic reactions to certain allergens can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening systemic allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and other serious symptoms.

What Other Health Conditions Has Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Been Linked To?

The consumption of Camp Lejeune contaminated water has been linked to several cancer and non-cancer diagnoses.

Health conditions linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination include, but are not limited to:

• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Breast cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Renal toxicity
• Multiple myeloma
• Other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Miscarriage, infertility and birth defects
• Many more diagnoses

Service members, their families, civilian workers, and countless others were diagnosed with deadly health conditions, and for years they could not secure the benefits they desperately needed.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Overview

The Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is a collection of chemical exposure lawsuits and administrative claims filed by Camp Lejeune victims.

Victims and their family members have filed claims and lawsuits due to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, which led to various illnesses.

In the early 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), revealed that the water supply at Camp Lejeune contained over 48,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

These VOCs contaminated the water at the Marine Corps base and caused many residents to develop serious and often fatal health conditions.

In response to this, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provided eligible affected victims with VA health care benefits under the Camp Lejeune Families Act.

While some received their VA benefits, others were denied.

This prevailing situation prompted the advocacy for and enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was signed into law 10 years after the Camp Lejeune Families Act.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act granted individuals the ability to file compensation claims for the injuries and damages suffered from Camp Lejeune water contamination.

The Camp Lejeune administrative claims process allows victims to file a claim for compensation, either on their own or with the help of a lawyer.

If Camp Lejeune administrative claims are not adjudicated by the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit within 6 months, victims are eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

What Caused Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?

There were multiple sources of water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The chemicals that seeped into the base’s water supply came from various waste disposal sites and underground storage tanks in and around the Marine Corps base.

Toxic chemicals seeped into the base’s water treatment facilities at unmitigated levels for several decades.

Of these facilities, the Hadnot Point Treatment Plant and the Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant were the most affected.

These plants supplied a large amount of the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Because the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated, many were exposed to the hazardous chemicals found in the camp’s water supply.

What Toxic Substances Were Found in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune?

The EPA and the ATSDR found more than 70 toxic substances in Camp Lejeune’s contaminated drinking water.

The four most significant contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune were:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
• Benzene
• Vinyl chloride

These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) capable of causing cancer, autoimmune conditions, and a myriad of skin conditions.

What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is a law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2022.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is a piece of legislation that allows victims who were at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune during the water contamination event to seek compensation.

Superseding the Federal Tort Claims Act (FCTA), individuals can file Camp Lejeune claims and pursue subsequent lawsuits if their initial VA compensation claims are unsuccessful within six months of submission.

The act was made possible through the advocacy of veterans and their family members, as well as previous legislative efforts.

Do You Qualify To File a Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim?

According to the Veterans Administration and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you may be eligible for a claim if you resided at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987.

You may also be eligible if you’ve developed any of the presumptive illnesses resulting from the base’s contaminated water supply.

These presumptive illnesses include:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease

If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit claim.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit instantly.

Your Camp Lejeune lawyers will help you complete crucial steps necessary for filing your claim, including gathering evidence and assessing damages.

Gathering Evidence for Camp Lejeune Claims

Proving your exposure to the Marine Corps base’s water and your development of illnesses requires the right evidence.

You can begin this step of the process on your own, but your Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you in case you cannot retain certain pieces of evidence.

Evidence in a potential Camp Lejeune Lawsuit or claim may include:

• Military service records indicating dates and locations served
• Medical records and diagnoses
• Medical bills
• Travel records
• Health care information
• Records on disability benefits or VA compensation benefits

Assessing Damages for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Claims

Damages refer to the total costs incurred, economic and non-economic, due to exposure to contamination at Camp Lejeune.

Your attorney will help you to assess and calculate damages.

In a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit, damages may include:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Disability benefits
• Loss of companionship, consortium, enjoyment of life, and earning capacity
• Permanent disability

TorHoerman Law: Your Camp Lejeune Lawyers

TorHoerman Law’s team of Camp Lejeune Lawyers are dedicated to achieving justice and rightfully deserved compensation for those exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune.

Contact us for a free legal consultation or use the chatbot on this page for a free case evaluation to see if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit instantly.

Any confidential or sensitive information you provide, such as medical records authorizations, is safe with us.

We value the attorney client relationship and will ensure that your information and claims are kept safe and secure.

Visit this page for more updates on Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts and any other news related to the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit.