VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits

Survivors, dependents or parents may be eligible for VA benefits based on the PACT Act. They will need to meet requirements for each benefit to qualify. 
Survivors, dependents or parents may be eligible for the following benefits:   
VA dependency and indemnity compensation (VA DIC) offers a monthly payment. Survivors may be eligible if they’re the surviving spouse, dependent child, or parent of a Veteran who died from a service-connected disability. For more information on these issues visit: https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

Accrued benefits offer a one-time payment. Survivors may be eligible if they are the surviving spouse or dependent child or dependent parent of a Veteran who we owed benefits but that were unpaid at the time of their death. For more information visit: https://www.va.gov/resources/evidence-to-support-va-pension-dic-or-accrued-benefits-claims/

Health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) may be available for survivors and dependents of Veterans who are now, or who would have been, eligible for a service-connected disability. Visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/family-caregiver-benefits/ for more information.

For more information on the PACT Act, see VA.gov/PACT.  

Nothing, your time will come.

For the future never appeal with the VA, Its faster to submit another claim because then you can give more evidence like a NEXUS LETTER from a non va doctor.

VA cannot speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues. VA will begin processing claims as soon as January 2023. Please contact our national call center for claim specific assistance at [login to see] so we may provide individual assistance or schedule an appointment to speak with someone at VERA - Home (force.com). For more information on the PACT Act and how you can apply for benefits, see VA.gov/PACT.

Did three tours in Iraq, two in Baghdad and one at Balad

If you get to 100% for cancer then there to be rated for secondary conditions.

When applying for benefits, you tell the VA what is wrong with you including illnesses that you believe are related to cancer, the VA will diagnose you and if they apply as secondary, they will rate you. So do it now!

VA is considering all conditions established in the PACT Act to be presumptive on August 10, 2022, the date the bill was signed into law. This approach better suits the needs of our Veterans and survivors. Implementing all presumptives as soon as the PACT Act becomes law is a more Veteran-centric approach and prevents Veterans and survivors from waiting years to have their claims processed. VA will begin processing claims as soon as January 2023.

Some of the toxins mentioned do, but you need to be diagnosed with asthma by a VA Doctor first.

SSgt Greg Cronin
Thank you yes definitely diagnosed by Va and they supply me with my meds

The PACT Act legislation regarding burn pits is specifically aimed at the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations and does not include other locations. VA encourages Veterans who feel that their health was negatively impacted by their military service to submit a claim. Please see the VA website on t his topic at: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/solvents/index.asp Thank you for your question and your service.

The PACT Act specifies presumptive locations for Veterans exposed to toxins. If you were not deployed to one of those specific locations, in order to establish entitlement to service-connected compensation there must be evidence of (1) an in-service event, (2) evidence of a current disability and (3) a link between the two. When VA recognizes a condition to be presumptively related to an in-service event, the presumption establishes the needed link. This means VA grants on a presumptive basis if the Veteran meets the criteria of the in-service event and has a diagnosed condition recognized to be related to that in-service event.

When a Veteran files a claim for a condition that is not an established presumptive for a location not identified in the PACT Act, VA would follow the same procedure of obtaining and reviewing evidence. However, this may also include requesting a medical opinion in conjunction with the exam request, to help determine if the current diagnosed condition is associated with the claimed in-service event 

The PACT Act establishes the presumption of service connection for reproductive cancer of any type for Veterans who served in the locations specified by the law. VA will expedite the processing of Veteran compensation claims related to cancer to ensure Veterans in greatest need are expedited for health care and access to compensation benefits. Expedited processing applies to compensation claims for any of the cancer conditions identified in the PACT Act, including supplemental claims from Veterans who were previously denied service connection.

Not only the person assigned the duty (pun intended) but everyone nearby had to endure the fumes, smoke, airborne ash, and smell all day long, every day! At one location for several months the burning barrels were within 25 yards from our field mess tent and kitchen!

The PACT Act legislation regarding burn pits is specifically aimed at the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations and does not include other locations. VA encourages Veterans who feel that their health was negatively impacted by their military service to submit a claim. Thank you for your question and your service.

The PACT Act does not include Vietnam as a location where exposure to burn pits is presumed. However, if you believe that you have a condition that is related to exposure to burn pits or other toxins, you are encouraged to file a claim. VA assumes that Veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to Agent Orange. For example, we presume exposure to Agent Orange if you served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.  For more information on VA disability benefits based on Agent Orange exposure please visit https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/. We also encourage you to visit VA’s PACT Act website at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/. Veterans can utilize links on the site to submit claims, and address any questions to maximize their entitlement related to the act’s recent passage. 

I also have allergies and breathing issues that I never had before serving in the military. I was exposed to burn pits in Somalia and also lost my hair. I did see a doctor about the hair loss but shrugged off the allergies because I just thought it happens to everyone. I agree there should not be a time limit on health. Most people want long and healthy lives.

The PACT Act added several conditions as presumptive conditions based on exposure for Veterans who served in certain locations. There is no restriction or rule on the time frame for eligibility after discharge. If we denied your claim in the past but we now consider your condition presumptive, we encourage you to file a Supplemental Claim. We’ll review the claim again. Please contact our national call center for claim specific assistance at [login to see] so we may provide individual assistance. For more information on the PACT Act and how you can apply for benefits, see VA.gov/PACT.

Good question. My impression is Vietnam burn pits have not been addressed. In reality Vietnam era pits likely contained, in addition to Agent Orange, many more hazardous substances compared to those in South-West Asia Operations because during the decades that separate the two areas of operations the use of many substances were discontinued or outright banned due to emerging awareness of their danger. For example DDT was banned in the early 1970's.

You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you meet both of these requirements:
(1) You have a health condition, such as hypertension, that’s caused by exposure to Agent Orange, and
(2) You served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange

VA assumes that Veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to Agent Orange. For example, we presume exposure to Agent Orange if you served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.
We determine eligibility based on the facts of each Veteran’s claim. If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension and served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange we encourage you to file a claim now.

For more information on VA disability benefits based on Agent Orange exposure please visit https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/. We also encourage you to visit VA’s PACT Act website at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/. Veterans can utilize links on the site to submit claims, and address any questions to maximize their entitlement related to the act’s recent passage. 

Thanks your service and question. If you meet the deployment dates and also have documented hypertension please file a claim. Hypertension is now a presumptive medical condition for Vietnam Veterans

The PACT Act legislation regarding burn pits is specifically aimed at the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations and does not include other locations. VA encourages Veterans who feel that their health was negatively impacted by their military service to submit a claim. Thank you for your question and your service..

The PACT Act does not include Vietnam or Korea as locations where exposure to burn pits is presumed. However, if you believe that you have a condition that is related to exposure to burn pits or other toxins, you are encouraged to file a claim. VA assumes that Veterans who served in certain locations were exposed to Agent Orange. For example, we presume exposure to Agent Orange if you served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.  For more information on VA disability benefits based on Agent Orange exposure please visit https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/. We also encourage you to visit VA’s PACT Act website at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/. Veterans can utilize links on the site to submit claims, and address any questions to maximize their entitlement related to the act’s recent passage. 

No. It's for all times. But you need to be diagnosed with an illness.

The PACT Act legislation regarding burn pits is specifically aimed at the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations and does not include other locations. VA encourages Veterans who feel that their health was negatively impacted by their military service to submit a claim. Thank you for your question and your service..

The PACT Act specifies presumptive conditions for Veterans exposed to toxins based on specific locations and periods of service. VA presumes certain Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans were exposed to burn pits or other toxins. We encourage you to review the list of locations at VA’s PACT Act website https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/. Veterans can utilize links on the site to submit claims, and address any questions to maximize their entitlement related to the act’s recent passage. 

If you were not deployed to one of the specified locations during the periods of service indicated, in order to establish entitlement to service-connected compensation there must be (1) evidence of an in-service event, (2) evidence of a current disability and (3) a link between the two.
When a Veteran files a claim for a condition that is not an established presumptive for a location not identified in the PACT Act, VA would follow the same procedure of obtaining and reviewing evidence. However, this may also include requesting a medical opinion in conjunction with the exam request, to help determine if the current diagnosed condition is associated with the claimed in-service event.  Please contact our national call center for claim specific assistance at [login to see] so we may provide individual assistance or schedule an appointment to speak with someone at  VERA - Home (force.com).

The PACT Act establishes presumptions of service connection for more than 20 conditions related to exposure to burn pits and certain other toxins, including several respiratory conditions. However, sleep apnea is not specifically included as a condition presumed to be related to burn pit exposure under PACT Act. If you believe that you have a condition that is related to exposure to toxins, you are encouraged to file a claim now. For more information on the PACT Act and how you can apply for benefits, see VA.gov/PACT.

Thank you for your service and question. There are many respiratory presumptions associated with the PACT Act. Headaches and sleep apnea have not been associated with burn pits to date. VA encourages Veterans who believe that military services has negatively impacted their health to submit a claim.