Nine rare respiratory cancers have been added to the Department of Veterans Affairs list of presumed service-connected disabilities related to toxic exposure during military service.
Veterans and survivors who had previously denied claims for any of the below respiratory cancers are encouraged to file a supplemental claim for benefits:
Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx;
Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea;
Adenocarcinoma of the trachea;
Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea;
Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung;
Large cell carcinoma of the lung;
Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung;
Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung and;
Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung.
“This policy change may affect approximately 100 veterans who were previously denied service connection for these nine rare respiratory cancers, not including other veterans who may file a claim for any of these for the first time,” VA noted in a written statement.
VA made the announcement, which applies to veterans who served any amount of time in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, or Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War, from Sep. 19, 2001, to the present, or the Southwest Asia theater of operations from Aug. 2, 1990, to the present, on April 25.
Meanwhile, two separate pieces of legislation addressing burn pit exposure are pending in Congress.
The House passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act in March. It would open up the Department of Veterans Affairs health care for 3.5 million toxic exposed veterans and establish a presumption of service connection for over 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act in February, the first step of a three-pronged approach to addressing the issue. It would make more veterans eligible for VA health care but does not address benefits.
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In a statement released by the White House Monday, President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to comprehensively address toxic exposures.
“We can and must do more to address the harms that come from hazardous exposures, which have gone unaddressed for far too long," Biden said in the statement.
VA added asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis to its list of presumptive conditions for certain veterans exposed to burn pits while serving in Southwest Asia and other areas last August.
To apply for benefits, veterans and survivors can visit VA.gov VA.gov or call 800-827-1000.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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