Pennsylvania has a significant veteran population, including many who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987, when the base's water systems were contaminated with toxic chemicals. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) opened a federal claims process for these veterans, their families, and civilian workers.
This page explains who qualifies, the CLJA filing history, and where claims stand in 2026 for Pennsylvania residents. This is not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state before taking any action on a Camp Lejeune claim.
Last updated: June 2026. Camp Lejeune litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). Active as of June 2026.
The Camp Lejeune Contamination and the CLJA
From approximately 1953 through 1987, drinking water at two Camp Lejeune water treatment facilities -- Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point -- was contaminated with industrial solvents including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are known or probable carcinogens. An estimated 900,000 to 1 million people lived and worked on the base during the contamination period.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA), signed into law August 10, 2022, created a federal cause of action allowing eligible claimants to sue the United States government for harm caused by Camp Lejeune water exposure. Congress enacted it specifically to remove sovereign immunity barriers that had blocked these claims for decades.
Camp Lejeune CLJA claims are consolidated in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) -- all claimants regardless of home state file there.
The CLJA Filing Window: What Pennsylvania Claimants Need to Know in 2026
The CLJA required eligible claimants to file an administrative claim with the Department of the Navy (Judge Advocate General's Corps) within 2 years of the law's enactment -- a deadline of August 10, 2024. That administrative deadline has passed.
As of June 2026, the status for Camp Lejeune claims is:
- ·Claimants who filed before August 10, 2024 and were denied or received no response within 6 months may pursue their claims in federal court in the EDNC. Litigation for this group is active in 2026.
- ·Claimants who did not file before August 10, 2024 face a harder path. Whether late administrative filings or direct court filings are possible is actively litigated, and outcomes vary. The statute of limitations for the underlying federal claim runs 2 years from the CLJA's enactment.
- ·Elective Option: The Department of Justice established a tiered settlement program for certain qualifying diagnoses. Published reports indicate the Elective Option has offered payments ranging from approximately $100,000 to $450,000 depending on diagnosis tier and individual factors, though amounts have been subject to change.
Talk to a licensed attorney immediately if you have not yet taken action -- the statute of limitations varies by state and claim type, and the window may have closed for new claimants.
Who Qualifies: CLJA Eligibility Criteria
To qualify under the CLJA, a claimant generally must establish:
- Presence at Camp Lejeune -- served, lived, or worked at the base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
- Qualifying diagnosis -- a medical condition linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination
- Causal connection -- the exposure must have contributed to the harm
The CLJA statute defines qualifying conditions broadly, but the Department of Justice's Elective Option identifies specific "Tier I" and "Tier II" diseases with the strongest evidence links. Conditions most frequently cited include:
- ·Adult leukemia
- ·Aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes
- ·Bladder cancer
- ·Kidney cancer
- ·Liver cancer
- ·Multiple myeloma
- ·Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
- ·Parkinson's disease
- ·Renal toxicity
- ·Scleroderma
- ·Neurobehavioral effects
Family members (spouses, children) who lived at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period may also qualify under the CLJA.
How to Document Camp Lejeune Exposure for Pennsylvania Claimants
Documentation for a Camp Lejeune claim involves three categories:
Service and presence records:
- ·Military service records (DD-214) available through the National Archives or the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis
- ·Orders or deployment records showing assignment to Camp Lejeune
- ·Housing records for family members who lived on base
- ·Employment records for civilian workers
Medical records:
- ·Pathology, biopsy, and diagnosis records
- ·VA treatment records if you sought care through the VA system
- ·Private physician and specialist notes
Timeline documentation:
- ·Records establishing the dates and duration of presence at Camp Lejeune (30-day minimum required)
- ·School enrollment records for children born at the base or raised there during the contamination window
Camp Lejeune Claims in the Eastern District of North Carolina
All CLJA federal cases are filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) in Raleigh, regardless of where the claimant now lives. Pennsylvania claimants do not file in a Pennsylvania court -- the CLJA specifies EDNC jurisdiction.
The EDNC has been managing Camp Lejeune CLJA litigation in a consolidated structure. As of 2026, the court has presided over discovery scheduling, motion practice on core legal issues (including causation standards and damages), and bellwether case selection. Many claimants had their administrative claims denied by the Navy JAG and are now in the federal litigation track in the EDNC.
Pennsylvania attorneys can assist with CLJA claims, but the actual litigation happens in North Carolina federal court. Many attorneys handling CLJA claims do so on a contingency basis regardless of where the client is located.
The Elective Option Settlement Framework
The Department of Justice established an Elective Option to resolve certain CLJA claims administratively without trial. Published government documents describe a tiered structure:
- ·Tier I diagnoses (strongest evidence of causal link to Camp Lejeune contamination): higher offered amounts
- ·Tier II diagnoses (moderate evidence): lower offered amounts
- ·Individual factors affecting offered amounts include: severity and duration of illness, age at diagnosis, and duration of Camp Lejeune exposure
Published reports indicate Elective Option payments have ranged from approximately $100,000 to $450,000 depending on the diagnosis tier and individual circumstances. These amounts are not guaranteed and are subject to the terms of the Elective Option program as it has evolved.
For claimants who reject the Elective Option or do not qualify for it, claims proceed through federal court in the EDNC. No responsible source can predict individual litigation outcomes before bellwether trials establish a damages framework.
Next Steps for Pennsylvania Camp Lejeune Claimants
If you are a Pennsylvania veteran, family member, or civilian worker who was present at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and have a qualifying diagnosis:
- Verify your presence documentation -- service records establishing 30+ days at Camp Lejeune during the contamination window
- Gather your medical records confirming your diagnosis
- Determine whether you filed an administrative claim before August 10, 2024
- Connect with a licensed attorney experienced in CLJA litigation to assess your specific situation
Last10Legal connects Pennsylvania claimants with licensed attorneys handling Camp Lejeune Justice Act cases. The match happens in minutes with no upfront cost.