The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend its adjudication regulations relating to presumptive service connection for certain diseases associated with contaminants present in the base water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North Carolina from 1953 to 1987. The chemical compounds involved have been associated by various scientific organizations with the development of certain chronic diseases. The intended effect of this proposed amendment is to establish that veterans, reservists, and National Guard who served at Camp Lejeune during this period, having been potentially exposed to the contaminated base water supply, and who have been diagnosed with one of the associated chronic diseases, will be presumed to have a military service-related medical condition that entitles them to VA disability benefits. In addition, this regulation proposes to establish a presumption that members of this group who later develop one or more of several presumptive conditions were disabled during the relevant period of service, thus establishing that this service constituted active, naval, military or air service. The effect of this action would be to presume exposure to contaminated water during reserve or National Guard service at Camp Lejeune to establish veteran status for VA purposes and eligibility for some VA benefits.