VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits

Prostate canncer is considered a reproductive cancer for benefits for post-9/11 Veterans under the PACT Act.

Yes, VA recognizes prostate cancer as a presumptive condition under reproductive cancer for Veterans who performed active military, naval, air or space service while assigned to a duty station on or after August 2, 1990 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or United Arab Emirates and also from September 11, 2001 in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan. space service while assigned to a duty station on or after August 2, 1990 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or United Arab Emirates and also from September 11, 2001 in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan.

To join the Airborne Hazard and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR), you would have logged into this website. https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/#page/home. You can log in and see if you have completed or started the questionaire. You can only apply if you have deployed to an eligible country. You do not need to join this registry to put in a claim.

VA commissioned 11 National Academies reports regarding the health effects of Agent Orange exposure. You may want to visit VA's website for more information: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/index.asp. An autosy would not determine Agent Orange exposure. It is unlikely that ther would have been an exposure in 2011 since Agent ORange had been discontinued for use decades prior to that.

Thank you for your family's service to the nation and please accept our condolences on the loss of your husband. The VA has a very robust Blue and Brown Water Navy program that has worked extensive with the US Navy Heritage Center to identify ships who served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or on her coastal or inland waters. If the USS King was identified as part of these operations, you as the surviving spouse may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation -- a tax-free monthly stipend for surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who pass of a service connected illness or injury.

The PACT Act established presumptions of service connection for more than 20 conditions related to exposure to burn pits and certain other Gulf War toxins, but does not include mental health conditions. However, if you believe that you have a medical condition that was caused by military service, VA encourages you to file a claim now.

The PACT Act does not cover mental health conditions.

The PACT Act expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and Post-9/11 combat Veterans. However, even if you did not serve in one of those locations and/or time periods, if 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.

If you did not deploy to an eligible location, the PACT Act would not apply in these circumstances. 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/.