VA takes steps to deal with mounting Lejeune water claims

VA takes steps to deal with mounting Lejeune water claims

"It felt like I had to beg," he said. "You try to be a man. You know, I served my country. The last thing you want to say 20 years later is, 'I need benefits.' "

A million people — civilian workers, Marines and their family members — are thought to have been exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and more than 160,000 have registered with the Marine Corps to learn more about the case.

"We know for certain benzene is most often associated with leukemias, acute myelocytic leukemia, and others," Flohr said. "Kidney cancer as well, with TCE and PCE, and liver cancer is associated with vinyl chloride."

In response to congressional inquiries, the agency has begun tagging claims that list Lejeune's water as a cause;

traditionally claims have been tracked by disability, not cause.

To learn more about the Marines' registry on historic water contamination at Camp Lejeune, go to Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water or call 877-261-9782.