News 3 Now Investigates: Toxic Water Denials at Camp Lejeune

SAUK CITY, Wis. -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has denied more than 2,000 claims through the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program, meant to cover medical bills for qualifying family members who lived at the North Carolina military base during 1953 to 1987, according to VA officials. Congress approved the program after it was found that toxic drinking water at the base caused different illnesses including various cancers, neurobehavioral effects, and renal toxicity. Since its inception in 2015, the program has approved 3,444 claims, paying out $15,475,357 to victims. Among the 2,370 claim denials, include those submitted by Dennis Volpe of Sauk City on behalf of his wife Judith Mathews, who lived at Camp Lejeune with her first husband. "We just knew my wife was having all sorts of medical issues and the doctors couldn't figure out what tied it all together," said Volpe. Judith is bedridden and can no longer walk, eat or use the bathroom on her own. When her health worsened 14 years ago, Dennis ultimately retired to care for Judith full-time. "I made a promise, a vow. And I'm trying to live up to that," Volpe said holding back tears. Dennis applied for help through the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program, with the hopes of the federal government covering the cost of her medical care. "I've spent 14 months reaching out to everybody, finding medical records from my wife in the past," said Volpe. "Some of these doctors are dead. It's been 55 years," he added. The VA found Judith administratively eligible for the program but denied their claims for three illnesses covered by the program. Documents from the VA explained it denied the claims because the conditions came on too late, or that there are other known causes. "We deny and deny these families constantly and that's what we should worry about," says Sandy Deich with the Sauk County Veterans Affairs office, who helped with Judith's CLFMP paperwork. "When you look at the (CLFMP) and what it does and doesn't do, is it really helping our veterans' families?" Deich asks. Deich suggests the examiners at the with the CLFMP who review the paperwork, are to blame. "Are these people there for the benefit of the veteran or for the program?" she asks.

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