The White House commemorated Veterans Day by announcing an expansion of healthcare resources for veterans who were exposed to hazardous materials during their time in the military.
The administration shared a fact sheet about the expanded resources for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday, saying that it is “committed to doing more to enable timely access to services and benefits for those potentially exposed to hazardous materials.”
AFGHAN WAR VETS APPROACH VETERANS DAY WITH MIXED EMOTIONS
“These actions will improve our understanding of the health effects of military-related exposures, educate providers and veterans about these exposures, and provide timelier access to health services and benefits for individuals who were exposed,” it says. “The Administration will continue to prioritize efforts to support veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards during their military service.”
Moving forward, veterans will not have to prove that their disabilities were a result of being exposed to hazardous materials — such as burn pits — and instead the VA will be able to presume there’s a connection, lowering “the evidentiary burden.”
Burn pits were used to incinerate wastes, hazardous material, and chemical compounds in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eighty-six percent of post-9/11 veterans who served in the war said they were exposed to such pits, according to a 2020 survey by the nonprofit group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Additionally, the VA began processing disability claims in August for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis based on presumed particulate matter exposure.
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The VA is also putting more resources into informing veterans of their benefits when it comes to exposure. It began an outreach campaign about eligibility last month.
It also agreed to a deal with the American College of Preventive Medicine to provide a certificate training program in military environment exposures in order to ensure that veterans speak with medical providers who are knowledgeable in exposure cases.
