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VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits
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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.
Lejeune and Jacksonville. Do I have any recourse? Besides water. PFAS, degreasers, and Agent Orange residue in airframes.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your service. VA encourages all Veterans who feel their health conditions are related to service to file a claim. This webpage can help instruct you on how to file: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim
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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.
Lejeune and Jacksonville. Do I have any recourse? Besides water. PFAS, degreasers, and Agent Orange residue in airframes.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your service. VA encourages all Veterans who feel their health conditions are related to service to file a claim. This webpage can help instruct you on how to file: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
While we cannot address your specific scenario in this forum, please check out this website for minimum service requirements and eligibility for disability benefits for Camp LeJeune: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/. Anytime you believe that you have a medical condition that was caused by your military service, VA encourages you to file a claim. You can file a claim online via VA.GOV or, in person at any regional office, or with an accredited representative.
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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.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The PACT Act defines respiratory hazards by period of service and location. VA encourages all Veterans who feel their health conditions are related to service to file a claim. This webpage can help instruct you on how to file: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Without additional information, we cannot address your specific situation. For more information on burn pit and other toxic exposure locations under the PACT Act, check out https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/. Anytime you believe that you have a medical condition that was caused by your military service, VA encourages you to file a claim. You can file a claim online via VA.GOV or, in person at any regional office, or with an accredited representative.
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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.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA encourages Veterans who believe they may qualify for benefits based on the PACT Act to apply for benefits even if they are already rated at the 100% level. Also, while there is no higher evaluation than a 100% combined disability rating, there are additional benefits that may be awarded under special monthly compensation.
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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?
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Toxic exposure screenings are available at VA at your next appointment and will be completed every five years. The answer to the second part of your question depends on your exposure and how long ago it occured. This is best discussed with your provider on your next visit.
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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 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?
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
All of the conditions under the PACT Act are effective on August 10, 2022, the date the law was signed. VA cannot pay any benefits retroactive prior to August 10, 2022, unless service-connected is granted under a separate authority, such as direct service-connection. VA cannot pay under a presumptive authority prior to August 10, 2022, as that is the date the law changed to allow consideration for those conditions to be granted presumptively.
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I Served in Viet Nam and I have been diagnosed with hypertension could this be a result of agent orange exposer
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
There is a presumption for Agent Orange and hypertension in the PACT Act. VA encourages all Veterans who feel their health conditions are related to service to file a claim. This webpage can help instruct you on how to file: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The PACT Act added two new medical conditions as presumptives for Vietnam-era Veterans, and one of them is hypertension. If you served in Vietnam and now have a diagnosis of hypertension, we encourage you to file a claim. You can file a claim online via VA.GOV or, in person at any regional office, or with an accredited representative
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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?
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Every person is exposed to ionizing radiation in our environment since birth, either from cosmic sources or radon gas. X-rays are another frequent source of ionizing radiation. To know more about why this is in your medical records, it is best to discuss with your provider.
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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.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The PACT Act extended the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to Veterans who served in Guam from January 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980. Although pulmonary fibrosis is not a presumptive condition, the PACT Act added hypertension (high blood pressure) to the presumptive list. The law does not require hypertension to manifest within one year of exposure. VA encourages Veterans who believe their disability is related to service to file a claim for disability compensation.
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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?
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Sleep apnea is compensible disability, which should be documented by a sleep study. VA encourages all Veterans who feel their health conditions are related to service to file a claim. This webpage can help instruct you on how to file: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/
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