You prove eligibility in a PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — case with medical records showing a qualifying diagnosis. You also need proof you lived or worked at a contaminated site and test results linking your water to PFAS. CourtDocket reports federal firefighting-foam injury cases are consolidated as MDL 2873 in South Carolina, described in CourtDocket's military-base water case review.
The cases sit before Judge Richard M. Gergel, with 15,232 cases pending as of May 2026. Complete files move faster.
Official resources:
- Check eligibility on CDC’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
- Read the original report from Epa — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
Table of Contents
- Which medical records count?
- How do you prove you were there?
- How do you prove the water was contaminated?
- Does a PFAS blood test prove your case?
- What do veterans need to add?
Which medical records count?
CourtDocket reports claimants must show records confirming a diagnosed qualifying condition such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, liver cancer, or ulcerative colitis. A pathology report plus a treating doctor's diagnosis carries the most weight. Treatment notes, surgery records, and prescription history should match those dates. CourtDocket also reports the court selected 28 personal-injury bellwether cases focused on kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Those four diagnoses now have the clearest litigation path. A liver-cancer diagnosis is still listed among qualifying conditions, but it sits outside that bellwether focus. Ask for full records, not summaries. Get the initial diagnosis note, biopsy or lab report, and proof of ongoing care.
How do you prove you were there?
You must show residence or work at the contaminated site during the contamination period. CourtDocket lists service records, base-housing records, leases, utility bills, or employment records as accepted proof.
Useful records include: Keep every page that shows names, addresses, and dates together. A gap in dates can stall review, so fill missing months with a second record type.
- military service records or orders showing station dates
- base-housing assignments, leases, or rental agreements
- utility bills addressed to you at the site
- pay stubs or employer letters showing work dates and location
How do you prove the water was contaminated?
Use water-system test results or environmental reports showing elevated PFAS in your groundwater, well, or public water supply. Save the utility notice, state testing letter, or environmental report for your address. Match the test date to the period when you lived or worked there. The U.S.
EPA states its final 2024 drinking-water rule set enforceable limits of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOS, detailed on EPA's PFAS drinking-water page. Lawyers use those numbers as a benchmark for calling water contaminated. A result above that limit strengthens the exposure link. Request records from your water utility and state environmental agency. Keep well-test invoices, lab sheets, and any mailed contamination notices.
Does a PFAS blood test prove your case?
A blood test alone does not prove eligibility. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry states a PFAS blood test will not identify a current or future health problem or guide treatment, noted in ATSDR guidance on PFAS blood testing. It shows exposure, not disease or source.
Pair the blood result with a qualifying diagnosis and exposure history. Keep the lab sheet, collection date, and chain-of-custody form. Do not submit it without medical and location records.
What do veterans need to add?
Veterans have no automatic VA presumptive service connection for PFAS conditions. CourtDocket reports veterans must prove a current diagnosis, in-service exposure, and medical nexus case by case. That makes the same civilian documents plus service records practically essential.
Keep DD-214s, orders, housing files, and service treatment records with your diagnosis file. Ask your doctor to state the link between your condition and in-service exposure in writing. File copies of everything you submit. Keep originals in one folder and send only copies unless told otherwise.