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VA Asked to Help Indiana Troops Exposed to Chemicals

March 15, 2010 - Many members of the Indiana National Guard suffered incapacitating and devastating illnesses directly related to being exposed to a carcinogenic chemical during their deployment to Iraq. U.S. Representative Baron Hill (D. Ind.) is now asking the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve the medical services offered to these soldiers.

More specifically, Rep. Hill is referring to those members of the Indiana National Guard ordered in 2003 to protect oil fields, including the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant. During their deployment to Iraq, approximately 140 Indiana Guardsmen suffered exposure to the carcinogen known as Sodium Dichromate, a chemical known to create severe health problems upon contact.

Soldiers reported orange dust all over the water treatment plant, but not every soldier is suffering from the same symptoms. Some of the soldiers have reported the following:  

• Sinus and nasal related illnesses;
• Nosebleeds;
• Body rashes;
• Aching joints;
• Persistent coughing; and
• General malaise.

 Rep. Hill's fear is that the Indiana Guardsmen will suffer the same fate as those other veterans who spent years waiting for the VA to recognize their service-connected conditions. Rep. Hill uses the VA's refusal to recognize the symptoms of veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome as well as Vietnam veterans and their exposure to Agent Orange and the time it took to recognize their disabilities as an example of the VA's history of waiting too long to address serious service-related illnesses.  

In a case that was ultimately dismissed by the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana, 47 members of the Hoosier National Guard sued KBR, the firm accepting the benefits from the oil fields being protected by the military. The suit claimed KBR knew of the potential health risks threatening the soldiers.

Additionally, Rep. Hill is attempting to establish a registry of all the military personnel exposed to any type of hazardous chemicals. His goal in doing this is to streamline the VA's response for those exposed soldiers and ensure these Indiana veterans are given the best health care possible.

Learn more about Rep. Hill's attempt to ensure quality health care for Indiana National Guard soldiers.