The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun an expedited process to expand the presumptive conditions associated with service at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan.
VA plans to publish a federal register notice with the intent of establishing service-connected presumptive benefits for K2 veterans suffering from a litany of cancers, immunological disorders, and other health conditions to receive earned benefits.
After hearing from K2 veterans suffering from radiation-exposure illnesses and reports confirming uranium was found there, Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Mark Takano (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in October called on VA Secretary Denis McDonough to directly use authorities granted to the department by the PACT Act to ensure K2 veterans exposed to radiation receive the benefits they have earned.
“Every veteran exposed to toxins during their military service deserves access to the benefits and health care they earned and were promised,” Tester, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs committee, said. “We fought alongside veterans to pass the PACT Act and ensure that was the case for generations of toxic-exposed veterans. I’m encouraged VA is now using this law to add new presumptive benefits for K-2 veterans exposed to toxic substances. And I’ll keep holding VA accountable to continue taking the necessary and immediate steps to do right by K2 veterans.”
K2 was a military base in Uzbekistan where some of the first service members were deployed in the Global War on Terror and was a former chemical weapons site contaminated with uranium.
McDonough has directed VA to use an accelerated PACT Act presumptive process to recognize additional presumptions related to service at K2. McDonough has indicated it is his expectation that VA will complete it as quickly as possible.
McDonough also announced VA will begin the rulemaking process to make bladder cancer, urethra, and other genitourinary tract cancers presumptive conditions for veterans who served at K2, and all veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
“Veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan are still not receiving the benefits they are entitled to,” Takano said. “That is why we called on VA for a revaluation of the contaminants veterans were exposed to during their time at K2. These veterans have waited decades for benefits that should have been granted a long time ago. I applaud VA's announcement today and hope it means that we will see an expedited presumptive for contaminants exposure at K2 very soon.”
The move has received support from K2 veterans and stakeholders.
“The Stronghold Freedom Foundation is grateful that the VA has acknowledged that more needs to be done when it comes to care for veterans who deployed and transited Camp Stronghold Freedom, Karshi-Khanabad (K2), Uzbekistan, and we look forward to continue working with the VA to ensure all gaps are closed so all veterans and their families are ensured the care and recognition they deserve,” said Matt Erpelding, Executive Director, Stronghold Freedom Foundation. “In October 2001, 23 years ago, the first boots were on the ground in response to the events of 9/11, the time for continued discussion is over and the time for impactful action is now.”
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.