Fed Regist. 2017 Jan 13;82(9):4173-85.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its adjudication regulations regarding presumptive service connection, adding certain diseases associated with contaminants present in the base water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North Carolina, from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987. This final rule establishes that veterans, former reservists, and former National Guard members, who served at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) during this period, and who have been diagnosed with any of eight associated diseases, are presumed to have incurred or aggravated the disease in service for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits. In addition, this final rule establishes a presumption that these individuals were disabled during the relevant period of service for purposes of establishing active military service for benefits purposes. Under this presumption, affected former reservists and National Guard members have veteran status for purposes of entitlement to some VA benefits. This amendment implements a decision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that service connection on a presumptive basis is warranted for claimants who served at Camp Lejeune during the relevant period and for the requisite amount of time and later develop certain diseases.
美国退伍军人事务部（VA）修订了其关于推定服役关联的裁决规定，将1953年8月1日至1987年12月31日期间北卡罗来纳州勒琼营海军陆战队基地（勒琼营）基地供水系统中存在的某些与污染物相关的疾病纳入其中。本最终规则规定，在此期间在勒琼营服役不少于30天（连续或不连续）且被诊断患有八种相关疾病中的任何一种的退伍军人、前预备役军人和前国民警卫队成员，为了获得退伍军人事务部福利的资格，推定其在服役期间罹患或加重了该疾病。此外，本最终规则确立了一项推定，即出于确定享有福利资格的现役军事服务目的，这些人在相关服役期间处于残疾状态。根据这一推定，受影响的前预备役军人和国民警卫队成员在享有某些退伍军人事务部福利方面具有退伍军人身份。本次修订实施了退伍军人事务部部长的一项决定，即对于在相关期间在勒琼营服役并达到规定时长、后来患上某些疾病的索赔人，有理由进行推定服役关联认定。
