VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits

I was stationed at Cherry point until 1974. Occasionally I went down to visit Marines at Camp
Lejeune and Jacksonville. Do I have any recourse? Besides water. PFAS, degreasers, and Agent Orange residue in airframes.

I was stationed at Cherry point until 1974. Occasionally I went down to visit Marines at Camp L
Lejeune and Jacksonville. Do I have any recourse? Besides water. PFAS, degreasers, and Agent Orange residue in airframes.

Burn Pits, Burning and smelling and being in charge of 50 gallons of waste burning for sanatation for the 1st Cav Div and having to smell that every week and getting into your lungs is that qualify as a burn pit.

As a 100% DV, served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, exposed to burn pits and burning waste, how does the PACT act affect one who is already at the threshold? Sinus issues listed in the act however, not awarded during the VA screening.

How do we get scheduled for a screening? I've asked my primary care, but I only get to see her once a year. Plus, if exposed in 2005-2009. Would you be seeing symptoms earlier, now or later down the road?

I served in Middle East in 1994-1995 on the USS Samuel Gompers and due to the nature of the assignment, traveled all over the area effecting repairs on just about anything, as we were the Outside Machine Shop. I have already had a burn pit exposure review and was identified as having been exposed to burn pits. Our trash burn pit for our ship was just off the pier and we all had duty rotations to take trash to the burn pit and man the pit. I know I was further exposed traveling to different operating bases all over the region. Additionally, it has come to light that many of us who served in the Gulf area were also likely exposed to some level of Sarin gas (see https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/sarin-nerve-gas-gulf-war-illness.html).
I left the Navy in 2002 and for over the last 20 years have dealt with chronic joint pain issues, memory issues, sinus issues, sleep apnea, and now I am being diagnosed with 'low nerve response' in my extremities. I was denied my original claim in 2003-2004, again in 2007, and again in 2019. Since then many of these have become presumptive conditions. My resubmitted claim was finally approved in 2021 after these new acts made these conditions presumptive but without any retroactive acknowledgement of the previous claims for the same conditions. I know I am not the only veteran who was denied for these claims previously, and likely, repeatedly.
According to the VA regulations and policies, veterans should be able to submit a claim to have compensation back to the date of the original filing when those conditions become presumptive, but the VA has not clearly identified the process to address this, nor have they voluntarily ensured this happens when accepting these claims.
Under the new laws, what will the VA do to address the retroactive benefits and compensation for previously denying these now presumptive claims?

I Served in Viet Nam and I have been diagnosed with hypertension could this be a result of agent orange exposer

My VA health record contains a brief indication that I was exposed to ionizing radiation, but nothing as to where, when, or why. How can i obtain more information on this exposure and what it could mean?

Stationed in Guam 1975-1978. Was an air cargo specialist. Loaded hundreds of planes with chemical and was routinely exposed to them. Developed Pulmonary Fibrosis, high blood pressure later in life but I read where you had to have symptoms within 1 year of leaving the exposure area. Any direction on how to proceed with be appreciated.

I didn’t snore or have sleep apnea before being exposed to burn pits. I’m convinced that exposure was the cause. Is the VA looking into a correlation between burn pits and sleep apnea?