Snell
By CHRIS SNELL
Guest Opinion
With all the scams coming out and all the law firms promising many financial benefits to those affected by the contaminated Camp Lejeune drinking water for those stationed at Camp Lejeune and surrounding territories from August 1953 through December 1987, our Brown County Veterans Coalition and the Veteran Services Office want to provide you with information on what has been said by law to alleviate concerns with regards to future benefits.
The Honoring our PACT Act that was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022 and implemented on Jan. 3, 2023, will have the ability to impact 3.1 million who served during Vietnam, the Gulf War era, and Post 9/11 era.
This law also included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), which benefits those veterans, families, and contractors who served on Camp Lejeune and surrounding territories the ability to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Government.
Unfortunately, some of the law firms are introducing false information with regards to your VA Benefits and winning an award in a potential lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Government. This could be detrimental to your current benefits if you are a Veteran who already receives any benefits related to the contaminated water in Camp Lejeune.
The main concern for Veterans is “will my VA benefits be impacted by receiving an award from a lawsuit?” The answer is unclear and limited at this time, but the best answer is, “potentially.”
The reason for this is that the VA does not have a firm grasp on what the lawsuit (tort claim) will render. However, if veterans pursue a lawsuit with a law firm and they are awarded, they will have an option to accept the benefit from the award or decline the offer.
If you accept the award, then any conditions related to contaminated water in Camp Lejeune, could be offset (monetarily and/or health benefits).
The Veteran Services Office and the Brown County Veterans Coalition are keeping a close eye on scams around Brown County and are willing to answer questions related to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA).
For more information regarding the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), you can visit the website: www.VA.gov/CampLejeune or by contacting the VA directly at 1-800-698-2411.
Chris Snell is the veterans service officer for Brown County. He can be reached at 812-988-5600 or [email protected].
Questions?
Office phone: 812-988-5600
Cellphone (call or text): 812-322-9086
Staff email: Chris Snell, Veteran Service Officer, [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcvso
Veterans Transportation Network: 812-988-0185
Chris Snell is the veterans service officer for Brown County. He can be reached at 812-988-5600 or [email protected].
