Burn Pit Exposure VA Disability Lawyer

The Dangers of Military Toxic Exposure: Burn Pits

The VA concedes that veterans who served in specific areas during qualifying time-frames may have suffered some sort of “toxic exposure” and that they are more likely to develop certain illnesses as a result. These so-called “presumptions” give rise to “presumptive service connection,” meaning a condition is presumed to be related to a veteran’s military service if other precise criteria set forth by the VA are met. Those veterans may be entitled to compensation for their illnesses.

Did you know that the largest military burn pit was in Iraq and covered nearly 10 acres at Joint Base Balad? By 2007, this military base was burning up to 200 tons of waste daily. Nearby, some 25,000 staff members would breathe in the toxic fumes. A common method of burning military base toxic waste was to throw jet fuel on it and ignite it. The smoke veterans were exposed to would have contained various toxic chemicals. Different exposure times would also have impacted how severe the impact was on their health. Veterans with prior health problems, such as asthma or heart issues, may have been impacted more severely.

In April this year, VA linked nine rare respiratory cancers to military service. These include various cancers of the lung, trachea, and larynx. Some believe this is because President Joe Biden has a personal connection and has raised concern over burn pits on several occasions. Biden’s son Beau died of rare brain cancer in 2015. The president said he suspects a link to his service in Iraq, where toxic exposure was common.

In June, the Senate passed a toxic exposure bill that will improve health benefits for those who served in areas where they were exposed to toxic burn pits.

The Veterans Affairs Committee has been slow to respond to claims that burn pits have had severe health effects. However, the issue is now gaining more political attention.

Burn Pits Are the New Agent Orange

Just as Agent Orange has become analogous to Vietnam, burn pits are becoming increasingly associated with military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Burn pits were commonly used in these areas to dispose of a variety of waste products. Much of this waste consisted of household trash, but, also contained more toxic substances including paint, plastic, human waste, and much more.

These burn pits emitted airborne hazards such as smoke, fumes, and particulate matter often nearby to where service members lived and worked. Imagine–thick billows of black smoke the wind then spreads in multiple directions, reaching those even further outside the burn pit’s proximity.

The obvious major concern is the impact these airborne hazards can have on the lungs when breathed in. Of course, other issues could include skin, cardiovascular, and neurological concerns.

After studying the effects of these airborne hazards on the long-term health of those exposed, the Department of Defense closed out most burn pits, and plans are in place to close those remaining.

Tragically, that action comes too late for the roughly 3.5 million troops who already suffered exposure and are now experiencing or at heightened risk for long-term health problems associated with burns pits. Many have returned home only to find that, while they may have evaded the enemy, they had developed serious, sometimes life-altering symptoms or conditions, some of which could be fatal.