Burn pit exposures have negatively impacted the lives of many veterans, and this fact was overlooked for far too long. Common at military sites in Afghanistan, Iraq and more, burn pits were used to dispose of many types of materials, releasing toxic fumes harmful to humans.
Such burn pit exposures resulted in long-term health issues for many veterans, some even life-threatening.
With presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure being introduced under the PACT Act, veterans who suffered the consequences of burn pits can now get the benefits they deserve.
In this article, we will go into the conditions that fall under the PACT Act’s presumptive disorders related to burn pit exposure. We will also dive into how you can receive the benefits and where to find help.
Presumptive Conditions List for Burn Pit Exposure
A range of conditions has been linked to burn pit exposure, and more disorders could be added in the future as research continues. For now, these are the presumptive conditions that the VA considers to be linked to burn pit exposures –
Cancer:
- Brain cancer
- Lung cancer
- Lymphoma (of any type)
- Melanoma
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphatic cancer (of any type)
- Pancreatic cancer
- Neck cancer (of any type)
- Reproductive cancer (of any type)
- Respiratory cancer (of any type)
- Gastrointestinal cancer (of any type)
- Head cancer (of any type)
Respiratory Issues:
- Asthma (diagnosed after service)
- Emphysema
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Granulomatous disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pleuritis
Nose and Sinus Conditions:
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
Other Related Conditions:
- Glioblastoma
Eligibility for VA Benefits for Burn Pit Exposure
Now that you know which presumptive conditions fall under burn pit exposures, let’s figure out whether or not you are eligible for getting VA benefits. It’s important to note that you cannot get VA disability benefits solely for burn pit exposure. The exposure must lead to a diagnosed medical condition that falls under the presumptive criteria. Here are the eligibility criteria for burn pit exposure conditions –
Service in Burn Pit-Exposed Areas
To be eligible, veterans must have served in locations where burn pits were used during specific military operations, including –
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Operation New Dawn
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Southwest Asia Theater of Operations on or after August 2, 1990
- Djibouti, Africa, on or after September 11, 2001
- Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield
Diagnosed Medical Condition
And, of course, veterans must have a diagnosed medical condition that is included in the presumptive disorder list of the VA.
Conclusion
As the list of conditions related to burn pit exposures is considered presumptive, you don’t have to establish a nexus to get your benefits. Therefore, getting a disability rating should be easier than other conditions. However, there could still be difficulties that many veterans face on a daily basis, and to help you with that, the experts at VA Disability Coach are here.