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VetXL Q&A Chat: Environmental Exposures and Burn Pits
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We have reached capacity for questions for this event and VA will post responses by Sept 8th. For other PACT and burn pit related questions please call 1-800-MyVA411 ( [login to see] ).
Questions will be answered by the following experts:
» Dr. William J Culpepper - Deputy Director, Epidemiology Program, VA
» LTC Peter Rumm MD - Director of Policy, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» FN Shanna Smith-Jackson - Acting DEPDIR, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» Daniel Brown - Program Analyst, VA
» Jacqueline Imboden - Special Advisor, Compensation Services, VBA
» Rachel Jones - Assistant Director, Office of Administrative Review, VA
» RDML Ann Duff - Director of the Office of Survivors Assistance, VA
» Terra Vincent - Senior Toxicologist, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» Cpl Heather McKibben - Program Analyst, Office of Policy and Oversight, VBA
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Coleton Whitaker - Senior Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» Jamie Statton - Management Program Analyst, Office of Policy and Oversight, VBA
» Tara Kase - Senior Management & Program Analyst, Office of Policy & Oversight, VBA
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Questions will be answered by the following experts:
» Dr. William J Culpepper - Deputy Director, Epidemiology Program, VA
» LTC Peter Rumm MD - Director of Policy, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» FN Shanna Smith-Jackson - Acting DEPDIR, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» Daniel Brown - Program Analyst, VA
» Jacqueline Imboden - Special Advisor, Compensation Services, VBA
» Rachel Jones - Assistant Director, Office of Administrative Review, VA
» RDML Ann Duff - Director of the Office of Survivors Assistance, VA
» Terra Vincent - Senior Toxicologist, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA
» Cpl Heather McKibben - Program Analyst, Office of Policy and Oversight, VBA
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Coleton Whitaker - Senior Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» Jamie Statton - Management Program Analyst, Office of Policy and Oversight, VBA
» Tara Kase - Senior Management & Program Analyst, Office of Policy & Oversight, VBA
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Burn Pits
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
VA Claim
Responses: 196
Why won’t the VA recognize kidney cancer because of AO exposure but just approved bladder cancer because of AO!! HMMM WONDER WHERE THE KIDNEYS EMPTY INTO!?
If there are so many respiratory illnesses & cancers associated with burn pits why is sleep apnea not?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical evidence reviewed by the National Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine have not found a causal medical link between sleep apnea and exposure to toxins. Anytime you have a medical condition which you believe was caused by or worsened by events that occurred in service, you should file a claim for service connection. If the condition is not one established by the law as presumptive, you can still become service connected for that condition if a medical opinion linking the condition to the events in service or treatment during service is obtained. You can file that claim via the va.gov website, through an accredited representative or by making an appointment to speak with VBA at VERA - Home (force.com).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for the question. Congress legislated the conditions. The most resent National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine consensus review of the scientific literature for burn pit exposure (published in 2020), did not find an association with sleep apnea and burn pit exposures.
I deployed to Egypt for a training excersice during Brighstar right after September 11 2001. During my duty I was tasked with burning several tons of bottle water which they said had been contaminated. We were provided jet fuel to burn the bottle water. I never thought about it but I started to suffer from allergies. I was told they were seasonal allergies then in 2011 I was diagnosed by an outside doctor with asthma. I now suffer from daily allergies, and short term memory problems, sleep apnea, sinusitis, daily headaches, tingling and numbness on 3 fingers on left hand and the lists is long. I don't appear on any database as being deployed I was told. Do I still qualify for burn pit or gulf syndrome benefits? I am very concerned since my health since to be deteriorating and I just turned 50.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Egypt is a location listed in the PACT Act. Chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, and asthma are also all conditions listed as presumptive conditions for burn pit exposure in the PACT Act.
For the conditions not specifically listed in the PACT Act, you can file a claim for service connection for any condition you feel was caused by or made worse by events occurring during your military service. Anytime you have a medical condition which you believe was caused by or worsened by events that occurred in service, you should file a claim for service connection. If the condition is not one established by the law as presumptive, you can still become service connected for that condition if a medical opinion linking the condition to the events in service or treatment during service is obtained. You can file that claim via the va.gov website, through an accredited representative or by making an appointment to speak with VBA at VERA - Home (force.com).
For the conditions not specifically listed in the PACT Act, you can file a claim for service connection for any condition you feel was caused by or made worse by events occurring during your military service. Anytime you have a medical condition which you believe was caused by or worsened by events that occurred in service, you should file a claim for service connection. If the condition is not one established by the law as presumptive, you can still become service connected for that condition if a medical opinion linking the condition to the events in service or treatment during service is obtained. You can file that claim via the va.gov website, through an accredited representative or by making an appointment to speak with VBA at VERA - Home (force.com).
I’m trying to get help trying to get on the burn pit registry. The va website for some reason isn’t helping. Can anyone explain how it works?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Please email the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry managers at: [login to see] The team theirs can directly assist you. They will be able to help troubleshoot issues and provide the appropriate guidance to help get you enrolled.
My husband is getting compensation for diabetes serving with agent orange exposure,
does the pact offer more?
does the pact offer more?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you question. The PACT Act adds coverage for hypertension and a rare condition called MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance). if your husband has either of those conditions, he could consider filing a claim. Please see a list of Atten Orange presumptions at: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp. Please thank your husband for his service to our nation.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of several conditions presumptive to Agent Orange exposure. The PACT Act added two new conditions (hypertension and MGUS) as presumptive to Agent Orange exposure. Once service connection for a condition has been granted, there is no other compensation benefit available for that specific condition. However, if he believes that his exposure to Agent Orange is the cause of another condition, he is encouraged to file a claim.
How does this affect those of us that were already rated at 100% but also on the registry?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry and VA claims are two different processes and are unrelated. The AHOBP Registry is used for research.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA cannot speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues. However, if you are currently rated 100% permanent and total, the only way to obtain additional compensation benefits is if you are determined to be housebound or in need of the Aid and Attendance of another person to attend to your activities of daily living. If you were determined to not be entitled to specific healthcare due to not being service connected for a specific condition, you can file a claim for service connection for that condition.
Good evening. Will the VA be offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy to those exposed? Thanks very much. GOD Bless
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your service and question. without knowing the diagnosis we are unable to answer this question. Hyperbaric oxygen has limited utility in many medical illnesses and can be useful in others. The pros and cons should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
I have COPD and served in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. We were breathing the black smoke from the oil well fires. In our unit all E5's burned the unit's trash in our burn pit. I was turned down for this, and feel that decision was wrong.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Saudi Arabia is one of the locations listed in the PACT Act and COPD is one of the conditions now considered presumptive. Depending on the dates in which you were there, you may qualify for service connection for COPD now under the PACT Act. VA cannot speak to your specific claim situation in this forum due to privacy issues. 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 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.
I was exposed to a burn pit in 1978 while riding my desert motorcycle in the desert part of the USAF base. Weeks later I ended up in the hospital for a month with a mystery illness that bothers me today. I had pericarditis and other problems.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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. In the Desert Southwest of the US there is an fungal illness called San Joaquin Valley Fever or Coccidiomycosis and it often attacks the lungs, but can affect other organs. You could discuss the possibilities of this or other causes with your healthcare provider. Thank you for your question and your service.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Anytime you have a medical condition which you believe was caused by or worsened by events that occurred in service, you should file a claim for service connection. If the condition is not one established by the law as presumptive, you can still become service connected for that condition if a medical opinion linking the condition to the events in service or treatment during service is obtained. You can file that claim via the va.gov website, through an accredited representative or by making an appointment to speak with VBA at VERA - Home (force.com).
I served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War and was exposed to smoke from oil fires and burn pits. I developed lipomas upon returning home and since have been diagnosed with Adiposis Dolorosa (Dercum's Disease). I have had several dozens of painful tumors excised and have nearly a hundred more on my torso, upper thighs and buttocks, and arms. This is a rare and sometimes fatal disease and I have no family history. I was hopeful when the PACT Act passed, but have been told that my condition is "not listed as presumptive", so I should file a claim. Is the PACT Act limited to certain conditions related to toxic exposure?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your service and question. Yes you would need to file a claim for conditions not covered under the PACT Act. 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.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The PACT Act establishes presumptions of service connection for broad categories of conditions related to exposure to burn pits and certain other toxins. Even if you're not sure if your specific condtion is covered under the PACT Act, VA encourages you to file a claim now and we will make the determination when we review your claim.
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Anytime you have a medical condition which you believe was caused by or worsened by events that occurred in service, you should file a claim for service connection. You can file that claim via the va.gov website, through an accredited representative or by making an appointment to speak with VBA at VERA - Home (force.com).