Noteboom The Law Firm

The VA Addresses Toxic Elements on the Battlefield

May 12, 2010 - There has been much written about the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and the horrible health problems they cause for those soldiers deployed in the area. The VA has issued a 30 page training letter outlining a new policy applying to all VA regional offices.

The policy outlines how the VA will establish disability benefits for those veterans exposed to toxic elements and environmental hazards to include the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Essentially, the letter will list for the regional offices which environmental hazards serve as health risks for soldiers and veterans.

This is a significant move for the VA. Specifically, the VA has never before spoken to the possibility of troops being exposed to hazards while still in the combat zone. It is also the first time the VA has given direction as to a service-related health issue without either a:

• Congressional Mandate; or
• Recommendation from a large health organization.

 The letter states that in the performance of their military duties, soldiers can come into contact with certain environmental hazards which may ultimately result in serious or even fatal health issues. The letter goes on to say that many potential illness-causing environmental hazards have already been identified in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Burn pits have been blamed for years for causing horrible symptoms in military personnel. Perhaps the VA's guidance on this issue will allow veterans to claim the disability they're owed.