The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established presumptions for service connection for veterans who were on Active Duty, Reserves or in the National Guard, and served at Camp Lejeune a minimum of 30 days (cumulative) between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions:

- Adult leukemia

- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes

- Bladder cancer

- Kidney cancer

- Liver cancer

- Multiple myeloma

- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

- Parkinson’s Disease

Presumption of exposure area includes all of Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River, including satellite camps and housing areas.

Although the following are not presumptive for the purpose of filing a benefits claim, you may receive medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the following health conditions:

- Esophageal cancer

- Breast cancer

- Lung cancer

- Multiple myeloma

- Renal toxicity

- Hepatic steatosis

- Female infertility

- Miscarriage

- Scleroderma

- Neurobehavioral effects

Veterans who are already enrolled in VA healthcare need to contact the local healthcare facility — either the South Valley Clinic in Tulare or the Fresno VAMC — to receive care under the new law.

As always, if you would like further information or assistance in completing your claim for benefits, call (559) 713-2880.

Ken Cruickshank, the Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County, is a retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer. Contact him at the Veterans Services Office at 3348 W. Mineral King Ave., Visalia; by phone at (559) 713-2880; or by email at KCruicks@tularehhsa.org.