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Legislation to Create Burn Pit Illness Registry Gains Veterans Support

Iraqi veterans have been complaining of mysterious illnesses following their exposure to open burn pits, which have created hundreds if not thousands of veterans with disabilities. According to an article in Stars and Stripes, new legislation has been introduced, which if passed, will create a registry of veterans and illnesses rooted in exposure to toxic smoke from burn pits.

All the burn pits have supposedly been closed, and reports say the military failed to keep accurate records as to what was put into the burn pits, as they were used as giant incineration piles. The proposed registry could very well be the only chance remaining to ascertain and study the "long-term health problems they'll face."

The bill will not require any new benefits be bestowed upon veterans with disabilities linked to burn pit exposure. Instead, the legislation would simply require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create and maintain a registry of burn pit symptoms common to all those exposed. Physicians would then have a strong starting point for future research.

The Department of Defense has long since argued against any connection between burn pit smoke and "rare respiratory illnesses and cancers." Some research under the VA, however, has developed the possibility of a link between the 2. In the meantime, the registry bill is being supported by multiple, large veteran's organizations.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.