In the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. health organizations alerted people in high-risk populations of their increased susceptibility to COVID-19. The Department of Veterans Affairs, however, has failed to provide adequate warning to veterans in high-risk categories, particularly those who experience health problems relating to their exposure to burn pits and other airborne toxins during their military service.

The VA maintains an Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, in which more than 200,000 veterans have self-identified as being exposed to burn pits during their service. Those on the burn pit registry have received no update about how health issues resulting from exposure to airborne toxins may increase their risk of a more serious COVID-19 infection. In online guidance about the coronavirus directed to the wider veteran community, no mention has been made of how burn pit exposure could put veterans at increased risk of COVID-19 complications.