VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits

I was stationed in Korea on a Hawk Missile Site in 75-76. There was a on site burn pit for the compound and anti-growing chemicals were used around the fencing and common areas where we worked ate and slept. Site like this this should be included in the VA Exposure PACT Act. I currently have cancer, asthma, diabetes, blood pressure issues and sleep problems and the VA says nothing is related to my 26 years of duty. (SMH)

50 years of complaining about the very itchy rash on my legs are completely ignored. It's like living with poison ivy. It itches but i can't scratch it because it gets much worse. I've run into other vets with the same condition. They too are ignored. No, I take that back. I was offered a free coloring book once by the VA. I thanked them but declined the coloring book.

I have submitted a compensation claim for Hypothyroidism in January of 2020. It has been denied, and another claim submitted in 2021, when that condition was added to the presumptive conditions of Agent Orange exposure. Still denied. Currently in appeal, and waiting for a telephone interview with the VA. Will I ever receive the compensation from the admitted AO exposure that I deserve?

I'm a Vietnam Veteran and was stationed in Camp Lejeune for two months of training. In the past I was on the Agent Orange Registry.
1.Is the Agent Orange Registry still in existence and being published?
2. Is there a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Registry and if so how do I apply to get on it?
3. Is there a Toxic Exposure Registry and if so how do I apply to get on it?

I was stationed on a few sea-going ships that was no longer allowed to dump trash at sea. Instead we had a system installed that converted piles of trash into a huge plastic disk and in order to do this, trash was stacked and incinerated into a plastic disk and held on station until we pulled into a port for discarding. Again the key thing is trash was incinerated (burned). During this, we suffered headaches and sickness. We knew this process stunk, but because the process of burning trash on board ship was new, we didn't know any better. Question: Does this count as a 'Burn Pit' process.

So I was exposed to asbestos on submarines and the years of inhaling black carbon dust along with incinerator smoke in my Navy job before I retired. But I'm not eligible for even an evaluation because it wasn't a "burn pit" is Asia or the Middle East? I think Congress or the VA or whoever needs to do a little more thinking about who is eligible.

When will decisions be made for those with clear cases regarding PACT Act? I see January starts, but without being terminal or 80, when would other veterans begin having decisions made?

Thank you

Upon hearing for the first time after 50 years that agent orange was used extensively on Guam and surrounding islands when I was stationed there. I decided to call the VA numbers supplied by the site. When a humane answered, I asked how I submit to the VA for Pact-act? He told me the VA has nothing to do with the Pact-act and that I would not receive anything from the VA for the Pact-act. After that I contacted the nearest Veteran Service Officer, who told me that I should be getting awarded a sizable cash and medical compensation due to the agent orange exposures. I just want to know, what gives? Why would the VA have someone working directly for them providing false information?

If already have a service connection for an item covered by burn pits do I put in a supplemental claim for it?

Hello, when we bombed the Serbs out of Kosovo we used depleted Uranium rounds to take out all the military infrastructure. After that we spent almost a year living in those same military buildings. We often stood in those craters or spent our time around them. Most of my buddies now have weird health problems and cancers. Obviously we also had burn pits for everything. Does this qualify for application to the new PACT Act? The way it was written seemed like it was made only for people who served in the Middle East. Thank you, William