VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits

Does Agent Orange come under environmental exposures?

I spent time in Iraq in several places listed on the registry. I filled the registry out years and years ago. I suffer from asthma, ocular headaches, sinusitis, and several other presumptive symptoms listed of burn pit exposures. Why would the VA tell me my issues have nothing to do with my time in OIF3? They make me feel absolutely defeated when everything I denied, even with evidence.

I served ib Viet Nam 1969 and human waste was burned at our site, Am I eligible for a claim?

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In reviewing some details about the recently passed PACT Act and cancers that are now presumptive based on certain assignments and exposures I was somewhat surprised to see that the list does not include bladder cancer.

I am a Persian Gulf war veteran and am enrolled in the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits registry. While in Kuwait, I spent 6 months working daily in the oil fields where hundreds of crude oil wells were burning. On December 7, 2021 I underwent surgery that confirmed I now have bladder cancer.

Based on some studies I reviewed, there are three known causes of bladder cancer, which are smoking (I have never smoked); arsenic poisoning (which has not happened to me as far as I know); and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The burning of fossil fuels, to include crude oil, is a primary source of PAHs. While one cannot conclude that my exposure to crude oil fires in Kuwait caused my cancer, it seems likely it was at least a contributing factor.

Going forward, I hope oil well fire exposure will be considered as part of ongoing efforts to identify additional presumptive conditions such as bladder cancer that may eventually impact Gulf War veterans.

Sincerely,

Christopher P. Werle, LTC USA (Ret)

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Jacqueline- Will the Pact Act remove the requirement to be diagnosed for a presumptive illness within 10 years of leaving the service? I was diagnosed with Asthma(10 years/10 months after retirement) and was denied for that reason. I also submitted evidence of multiple breathing issues that occurred prior the 10 year period. COVID also prevented many in-person appointments during this time frame which slowed diagnosis. I have been told my my Congressional Rep (Florida's 3rd District) that the implementation of the Pact Act will take some time to write the CFR and Title 38. How long do you believe this will take and what should veterans do who need the help now? I don't believe that veterans should have to resubmit a new claim for compensation. These denied claims should be automatically fixed and back paid to date of initial claim. Thanks!

Will it include those of us who were stationed in Europe during Chernobyl? With the winds and weather radioactive particles, which were 400 times more radioactive than the Atom bomb, were in the air while I was stationed in Scotland. High cancer rates in Scotland have also been linked by scientists and doctors to Chernobyl. I have also been excluded from donating blood since then.

In Nam 68, cnt. high.. Exposed to A.O. and burn pits. Got P. Malaria, medivacted to Pleiku, Japan, Denver Fitzsimons. Have Neuropathy. Can only walk a mile at most, feet burn and hurt. I'm 74 and it's been increasing over 10 years. Filed a claim, said if not detected in first year, not eligible. They saved my bacon in the field hospital by packing me in ice and fans. Near death high temps.