Fort Bragg Toxic Exposure Benefits

The U.S. government discovered contaminated groundwater at Fort Bragg and has been working to clean it up. Veterans who were exposed to Fort Bragg water contamination and later developed health complications may be eligible for VA disability benefits. This article explains more about Fort Bragg toxic exposure and how affected veterans can qualify for VA compensation.

History of Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg was established in 1918 in Fayetteville, North Carolina to train soldiers for World War I. Through the years, it has been used for training, special operations, and humanitarian missions.

Though it was originally called Fort Bragg, the Army renamed the base Fort Liberty in 2023 as part of an effort to rename bases named after confederate soldiers. In 2025, the installation was again named Fort Bragg, this time in honor of World War II veteran Army Private First Class Roland L. Bragg.

Today, Fort Bragg spans across 251 square miles, making it the largest military base in the world. It houses the Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Forces and houses about 10% of the Army’s total forces, including about 51,000 military personnel and more than 14,000 civilians.

Did Fort Bragg have contaminated water?

Fort Bragg water contamination is due primarily to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because of how difficult they are to get rid of once they’re in the environment. PFAS are used, among other applications, to make fire-fighting foam, which the Department of Defense (DOD) began implementing in the 1970s to fight fuel fires in the military. This is one of the main reasons why the chemicals are so prevalent on military bases.

Now, the Army regularly tests the water at Bragg. Although the levels are below the EPA’s 2016 lifetime health advisory levels, those were updated in 2024. Under the EPA’s final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, the water at Fort Bragg still contains levels of PFAS above what is considered safe. As of March 2024, the level of PFOA + PFOS (two common types of PFAS) found in the water at the base was 9.3 ppt (parts per trillion). The current EPA standard is four ppt.

Were there other Fort Bragg toxic exposures?

Fort Bragg water contamination isn’t the only toxic exposure concern for veterans stationed at the base. In addition to toxins in the water, veterans who served at the base and may have also been exposed to asbestos and mold. 

As recently as 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that living and working conditions were “unsafe or unhealthy” because of asbestos in some of the old buildings on the base. Base officials said at the time that they addressed the concerns.

During the same time, soldiers with environmental and health backgrounds tested spores in an office building on the base and found mold. They reported concerns about the mold’s health effects, but base officials said then that the mold wasn’t a concern beyond being a basic allergen.

Fort Bragg water contamination and related health issues

Despite claims that the base is a safe place to live and work, there are potential health issues related to ongoing or excessive exposure to the toxins found at Fort Bragg. 

Fort Bragg asbestos exposure

There is or has been asbestos in the older buildings at Fort Bragg. People who are exposed to asbestos breathe in fibers from the toxic material. These fibers can build up, causing scarring and inflammation of lung tissue. Over time, this buildup can affect breathing and cause a rare type of cancer in the chest and abdomen called mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can also lead to asbestosis, an inflammatory lung condition, and lung cancer.

Fort Bragg and PFAS exposure

Research on PFAS is still relatively recent. Because scientists are still learning about the health effects of exposure to the toxin, there is no definitive data on its health outcomes. However, research does suggest that exposure to high levels of PFAS may lead to higher levels of cholesterol, an increased risk of certain cancers, reproductive issues, and liver damage, among other issues.

Other Fort Bragg toxic exposures

Other contaminants have also been found in the water on base, including:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are human-made chemicals used in products like paint, gasoline, and cleaning supplies. Exposure to VOCs can cause severe health issues, including damage to the central nervous system and organs. Exposure to some VOCs can even cause cancer.  
• Heavy metals, which can cause health issues that result in organ failure. 
• Haloacetic acids (HAAs), which are chemicals that form when chlorine or other disinfectants react with naturally occurring organic matter in water. The EPA classifies HHAs as potentially carcinogenic. 
• Trihalomethanes (THMs), which, like HAAs, are the result of a reaction between chlorine and organic matter in water. Exposure to high levels of these chemicals is associated with cancer and reproductive issues.

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Fort Bragg disability claims

Although the VA does not recognize any specific adverse health conditions associated with service at Fort Bragg, you may still be entitled to VA disability benefits. But first, you will need to service connect your condition. 

To establish a service connection, you must provide a medical nexus, or a professional medical opinion that links your condition to your military service. Additional supporting evidence including your military records and lay statements can also help bolster your claim and prove service connection.

Because claims of toxin exposure at the base may be difficult to prove, you may want to hire an accredited VA disability lawyer to help build your case. 

How Woods & Woods can help

At Woods & Woods, we focus on helping non-working veterans with service-connected conditions get individual unemployability benefits and, in some cases, increased ratings. We also help survivors of veterans receive their DIC benefits. If you think we can help you with your claim, call us today for a free case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we take and win your case.

Talk to Us About Your Claim: 
(812) 426-7200

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