Editor’s note: This post was substantially updated Jan. 14, 2022. It adds the fourth paragraph about Gulf War and Post 9/11 Veterans, the sixth paragraph about Vietnam Veterans, and the last paragraph about the registries.

Were you exposed to hazardous materials while serving in the military, such as Agent Orange in Vietnam or burn pits in Afghanistan, Iraq or Southwest Asia? If so, you may be eligible to file for service-connected benefits based on presumptive exposure.

Over the course of the last six months, VA has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new presumptive conditions related to exposure to hazardous materials.

In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and certain other locations.

For Gulf War and Post 9/11 Veterans, a few months later VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas.

Any Veteran who was previously denied service-connection for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) and had symptoms manifest within 10 years of military service would need to file another claim. Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, “Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim” when filing. The claim form should include the name of the medical condition and specify that the medical condition is being claimed due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards.

Vietnam Veterans with bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism due to Agent Orange exposure who had previous claims denied should also file another claim, but symptoms do not need to have manifested within 10 years of military service. These Veterans should also use VA Form 20-0995, “Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim” when filing for previously denied service-connected benefits.

VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during their military service.

Be sure to stay plugged in to www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental hazards; VA is constantly conducting research and surveillance, as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that may be related to exposure during military service.

If you feel you have a chronic condition attributed to an in-service exposure, we highly encourage you to file a claim. For more information about VA benefits and eligibility, or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors can visit VA’s website at www.va.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry (AHOBPR) is governed by law and eligibility is for Gulf War Veterans and Post 9/11 Veterans for further scientific research into the health impacts of industrial burn pits. Vietnam Veterans are already covered under Agent Orange presumptions and are encouraged to directly file claim if they feel their medical condition is related to Agent Orange exposure.

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13 Comments

  1. Chad Childers November 19, 2021 at 15:42

    I was in 2nd Ranger Battalion at Ft. Lewis, Washington and was deployed to Afghanistan with them in 2002. I was then deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2003. I am part of the Burn Pit Registry, which I encourage all veterans that were deployed to the middle east to do so. This way you are on the list in case if God forbid someday another illness starts effecting veterans from our era.

  2. Lawrence A Kokoszka November 12, 2021 at 00:16

    I file a supplemental claim on December 2019 January 27th 2020 my claim went to the initial review. That was request to in March of 2020 since then request 3 request4 request 5 request 6 request 7 have all been closed and no longer needed. In February of 2021 I received a notice on my health vet that they needed information I called to find out what they needed they said they didn’t need it from me they were waiting for my treatment records it went off for about 30 days and went back into review and they said a request for request one and I got another notice saying they needed more information I called again and they said it wasn’t from me they’re waiting for my treatment records in about 30 days it happened again so I want online and I asked a question and I sent them a letter they sent me an email back I told me they were waiting for stuff from me they were waiting for my treatment records it seems as though every 30 to 45 days my case goes back to review and in July 22nd they sent out a request for number one it waited about 35 40 days it went back into review Anderson Auto request for request one that what is on October 7th it seems to be a pattern all of it goes on for so long then it goes to review and then they ask for request one I find it hard to believe with West to was in March of 2020 a year-and-a-half later still waiting for request one next month will be two years I’ve been waiting for an answer. I did go on phone Town Hall with dr. Lawrence never got to ask my question is someone from his team called me the next day that was in December of 2020 she asked me what my question was I asked her I said it was a year since I sent in my supplement she looked up my record and told me that they had ordered something in March hesitated then said no May so I verified with her it was either 7 months or nine months did they order something she said yes I asked her what it was there looking for she said she didn’t know because it didn’t say so I asked her where it was coming from she said she didn’t know because it didn’t say so I verified with her does she was waiting for something there was coming from somewhere and I’m waiting 7 or 9 months and she couldn’t tell me what it was so I asked her how she would know when she got it and she told me I just had to wait there seems to be a pattern of mycase every few months going to review I got a request for number one it seems to be a problem here maybe someone can look into it and tell me what’s going on

  3. L. JERRY COHN November 11, 2021 at 19:43

    I HAVE NOT HAD YOUR EXPERIENCE, BUT AM A VETERAN WHO WAS EXPOSED TO HEAVY DOSES OF RADIATION DURING VIETNAM, WHILE ON AN ARMY FLOATING NUCLEAR REACTOR, IN PANAMA CANAL ZONE. MANY YEARS WENT BY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS AND THEN 10 YEARS AGO I WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR ALL 8 HEART ARTERIES BEING UP TO 95% BLOCKED. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD LIKELY NOT MAKE IT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS AT BEST. I AM NOW IN MY TENTH YEAR POST SURGERY.

    I HAD CONTACTED ONE OF MY U.S. REPRESENTATIVES (FROM MY STATE) AND EVERY THING I NEEDED FROM THE VA DRAMATICALLY CHANGED. I SUGGEST THAT YOU SEEK SOME ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. GIVE HIM OR HER THE FACTS, INCLUDING THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY. IT IS BEST IF YOU MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE IN PERSON.

  4. Ed Deverell November 9, 2021 at 18:24

    Agent orange with diabetes (20%) and five months still waiting for my results on disability for bladder cancer. Should never take this long for a veteran.

  5. Debra W Brown November 9, 2021 at 10:50

    See above

  6. Debra W Brown November 9, 2021 at 09:28

    ♦️ I’m sorry to use this site for the following question‼️

    My husband was 100% Totally Military Related Disabled. He died 10/31/19 of a Military Relateld Disability‼️

    ♦️ My questions and concerns are:

    (1) I receive very little information on Widow’s
    Benefits.

    – Because of the COVID I wasn’t even able to bury
    My husband‼️ With so many restrictions, I’m
    and not having a natural process to say good bye.
    I’m expierenceing severe depression and
    anxiety. I’m still not living a normal life.
    I spent over $100,000 dollars out of my pocket
    to bring my husband home from hospice where
    He wasn’t getting proper care. I also paid CNA’s
    to take care of him when in Nursing Homes.
    Money I really couldn’t afford putting me in a
    Very uncomfortable situation. That too
    contributed to my mental state.

    I knew my husband needed better care, and home he would get better care and be happier at home.

    (2) I need information on ChampVA. I’m paying
    Over $400.00 a month for Medical expenses.

    (3) Other benefits.

    I live in a very small town ( Hayesville, NC ) and
    we do not have VA facilities to go to and get any
    Information.
    I went to another town, to a VA office and they
    Could not answer my questions.

    I need help and don’t know where to turn to without driving 100’s of miles.

    Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

    Again I’m sorry using this site for these problems.
    I just do not know where to turn to for help.
    I know open enrollment ends mid December.

    Thanking you in advance for all your help.

    Debra W Brown

    • Lou November 10, 2021 at 09:10

      Seek out your county veteran service officer (vso) or your local vfw, American legion, or dav. They will be able to explain your benefits and also help file the paperwork. I hope this info helps to get some resolution to your matter.

    • Jacob November 10, 2021 at 09:12

      Debra for CHAMPVA fill out https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-10d-fill.pdf and mail it to the address at the top of form.

    • Jacob November 10, 2021 at 09:14

      Also for CHAMPVA there is no open enrollment period to worry about. You can always apply for it at any time.

  7. Debra W Brown November 9, 2021 at 08:51

    My husband is now deceased as of 10/31/19. He had file some of the presumptive disease(s). There are some he didn’t file.

    – Can I file these claim now❓

    He died from a Military Related illness.

  8. Michael Terrell November 9, 2021 at 06:00

    What about those who served at Ft Greely, where the nuclear power plant was contaminating the water? It was shut down not long before I arrived

  9. Frederick Glover November 8, 2021 at 23:05

    VA continue to deny presumptive service claims

  10. Victor Sellers November 8, 2021 at 20:34

    Yes, I was absolutely exposed, ingested, and inhaled Agent Orange and that’s the reason for my Urticaria, Atopic Dermatitis with Generalized Pruritus, uncontrollable nerve damage with extreme itch of skin, a stroke, damaged liver, damaged lungs with respiratory infection, Erectile dysfunction with BPH, Rhino sinusitis, Coronary Artery Disease, Blood Coagulation Disease, multiple shin cancers, brain lesions and hypodensity, but the Government lied to me for 45 years and is still withholding most of my medical treatment records from after Vietnam. It’s been 50 years next month that I was deceived, being told they were lost in order to deprive me and my dependents of every cent in deserved Compensation and Pension. I was lied to for 45 years so the benefits could be withheld COMPLETELY, while my oldest SON died due to my ingestion of our Government’s Agent Orange spread over Vietnam. My records prove my exposure, but the government is still lying about the whole thing using “Allergy to Chloroquine “ as the reason for my many conditions.

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