VA launches Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched its Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry for veterans and servicemembers who may have been exposed to airborne hazards such as burn pits, oil-well fires and dust storms.
The registry is open to anyone who served in:
- Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn
- Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm
- Southwest Asia theater of operations after Aug. 2, 1990, to include Djibouti, Africa, or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001.
Many veterans have reported respiratory symptoms and health conditions that may be related to exposure to burn pits. The long term health effects of exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards are not fully understood; VA set up the registry to better understand these health effects.
The registry gives participants the opportunity to document any concerns they may have about deployment-related exposures, and it provides the opportunity to obtain a free health evaluation by the VA or a Department of Defense provider. The evaluation can identify and document any problems potentially related to the exposures and ensures ongoing follow-up for any existing health conditions, or any additional conditions that could emerge in the future.
The burn pit registry, and all other VA registries, are unrelated to the service-connected disability compensation rating process. While a registry note in your medical record summarizing your exposure concerns and related medical treatment may serve as evidence to support a claim, it is not a necessary document or step in the claims process.
Visit the registry at https://mobile.va.gov/app/burn-pit-registry.
Legion testimony
On March 15, The American Legion presented testimony to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on pending veterans legislation. Legislation discussed included:
S. 2473: Express Appeals Act of 2016. The bill will direct the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program to provide veterans the option of using an alternative appeals process to more quickly determine claims for disability compensation.
S. 2633: Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act. The bill will improve the ability of the VA Secretary to provide health care to veterans through non-VA health-care providers.
S. 2646: Veterans Choice Improvement Act. The bill will amend title 38, United States Code, to establish VA’s Veterans Choice Program in effort to improve health care provided to veterans by the department and for other purposes.