Camp Lejeune Renal Toxicity Lawsuit

Why are people filing Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuits?

People exposed to the toxic water at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune are filing lawsuits to gain compensation for their injuries. Many health effects have been linked to the Camp Lejeune water contamination, including several cancers and serious conditions like renal toxicity.

Renal toxicity, also known as nephrotoxicity, is a rapid decline of kidney function. It is caused by exposure to medications and chemicals that damage the kidneys. Several chemicals were discovered in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, affecting residents and workers from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. 

These toxic chemicals are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and have a wide array of observed negative effects on human health. The VOCs discovered in Camp Lejeune’s water are:

• 1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE)
• Benzene
• Perchloroethylene / tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Vinyl chloride

These chemicals have been linked to Camp Lejeune kidney disease, renal toxicity, and other health conditions such as:

• Aplastic anemia
• Bladder cancer
• Cardiac birth defects
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Parkinson's disease
• Systemic scleroderma
• Systemic sclerosis

People who develop these conditions may be able to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.

Filing a renal toxicity Camp Lejeune lawsuit

Veterans, their family members and other on-base personnel and workers were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water. For many years, affected veterans were consistently denied compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In August 2022, the Honoring Our PACT Act was passed, allowing veterans, their family members and others diagnosed with renal toxicity to file a new kind of claim for a range of toxic military exposures. 

The PACT Act included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA). This Act opened a two-year window for people impacted by the base’s contaminated water to file a claim with the Department of the Navy. 

You may be eligible to file if you developed a condition linked to the toxic water after living or working at Camp Lejeune at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987. Our lawyers can help guide you and your family through the process and see your claim to its resolution. Claims can also be brought by the estate of deceased individuals who qualify. 

Camp Lejeune claim process and scams

If you are eligible, your Camp Lejeune lawyer can help you file a Department of the Navy (DON) claim. This preliminary claim is required under the CLJA. 

If the DON denies the claim or fails to resolve it within six months, you are then eligible to file a lawsuit.

To some, the elective payout option is offered by the DON and meant to fast-track your claim, but may result in a lower payout than a lawsuit.

When considering whether to file a claim, be sure to look for reputable lawyers and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Millions of dollars have been spent on advertising for Camp Lejeune lawsuits, and several scams have popped up. To avoid a Camp Lejeune scam when deciding on hiring a lawyer, look at a law firm’s track record with military and toxic exposure lawsuits, as well as undertake due diligence on the lawyer.

Contact a toxic exposure attorney

If you or a loved one served, worked or lived at Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and developed severe health complications, a knowledgeable toxic exposure attorney can help you weigh your options for recovery and justice. We are available by email, or you can call 866.855.9017 for more information.
Contact a lawyer now

Evidence linking Camp Lejeune to renal toxicity

Renal toxicity is a serious condition that can lead to kidney damage and failure. It can develop when a person is exposed to chemicals like VOCs. Some of the VOCs found in Camp Lejeune’s water have been linked to renal toxicity.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) published an assessment of the evidence linking these toxins to various Camp Lejeune illnesses. The assessment links two of the VOCs specifically to renal toxicity. 

Perchloroethylene (PCE) and renal toxicity

The ATSDR collected evidence from animal studies that showed PCE causes renal toxicity. It specifically affects the kidney’s tubules, which remove waste from the body when functioning properly.

PCE has also been linked to kidney damage and cancer.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and renal toxicity

The ATSDR collected evidence from animal studies that showed TCE causes renal toxicity.

TCE has also been linked to kidney damage and cancer.

Renal toxicity signs and symptoms

Doctors can search for signs of renal toxicity in a patient’s blood work. There are two main indicators of renal toxicity: 

• An increase in blood creatinine levels, which a properly functioning kidney would typically filter out.
• An increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, as a healthy kidney would filter nitrogen wastes from the bloodstream.

Patients experiencing renal toxicity may also exhibit symptoms common with kidney issues, such as decreased urination, swelling in extremities and fatigue. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with renal toxicity after serving at Camp Lejeune during the contamination time frame, you may be eligible to file a claim. Contact a reputable toxic exposure attorney to learn more about your options.

Our history representing veterans

Lawyers at Motley Rice have represented veterans and their loved ones in numerous lawsuits. Besides Camp Lejeune claims, we also have experience in the following areas:

• 3M earplugs and hearing loss
• EFP roadside bombs manufactured by terrorists
• Exposure to asbestos and other toxic materials
• Exposure to toxins released from burn pits at military facilities

We are committed to helping service members and their family members receive the justice they deserve in pursuing compensation.

Read more on our work in support of veterans.