Toxins and Chemical Exposure in the Military: A Veteran’s Guide
Military service can expose men and women to dangerous environmental hazards. From the battlefields of Vietnam to the bases of the Gulf War, many veterans have been around toxins and chemicals that can cause serious long-term health concerns. For some, these health issues don’t appear until many years after they leave the service.
This guide explains some of the most common toxic exposures veterans have faced. We’ll look at what these substances are, what health problems they can cause, and how the PACT Act has made it easier for veterans and their families to get the help they deserve.
The New Era of VA Benefits: The PACT Act
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act), signed into law in August 2022, is the most significant expansion of VA benefits and health care for veterans exposed to toxins in over 30 years.
This law made over 20 new health conditions “presumptive” for veterans. This means that if you served in certain places and have one of these conditions, the VA will automatically assume your illness is connected to your service. You do not have to prove the direct link yourself.
This presumptive status makes you eligible for VA disability compensation and VA health care for your service-connected conditions.
Common Military Toxic Exposures
Military environments, both in the U.S. and overseas, have often contained harmful substances. Here are some of the most well-known exposures and the related benefits.
Burn Pits
Open-air burn pits were a common way to get rid of waste on military bases in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. The pits were used to burn everything from trash and plastic to batteries and jet fuel. The smoke created a toxic mix of chemicals that could cause cancer and other health problems.
Health Risks: The smoke from burn pits has been linked to a wide range of illnesses, including:
- Cancers: Brain, gastrointestinal, glioblastoma, head, neck, kidney, pancreatic, reproductive, lymphatic, and melanoma, and all respiratory cancers.
- Respiratory Illnesses: Chronic Asthma (diagnosed after service), Chronic Bronchitis, COPD, Chronic Sinusitis, Constrictive Bronchiolitis, Emphysema, and Interstitial Lung Disease.
How the PACT Act Helps: The PACT Act made a large number of these respiratory conditions and cancers presumptive for veterans who served:
- On or after August 2, 1990: in the Southwest Asia theater of operations (including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Somalia, and the associated airspaces).
- On or after September 11, 2001: in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and the associated airspaces.
Claim Denied Before PACT Act? You Can Re-File! The new law changed everything. If the VA denied your claim before August 10, 2022, you may now qualify under the expanded rules. Contact us for a FREE Case Review to understand how the PACT Act applies to your prior denial.
Agent Orange
Agent Orange was a strong herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to clear out thick plants. It contained a very poisonous chemical called dioxin.
Health Risks: The VA has a long list of conditions presumed to be linked to Agent Orange. These include:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Ischemic heart disease.
- Certain cancers (like prostate, lung, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma).
- Parkinson’s disease.
How the PACT Act Helps: The PACT Act codified and expanded Agent Orange presumptive conditions and locations. The most recent conditions added to the list for those with qualifying service include:
- Bladder Cancer
- Hypothyroidism
- Parkinsonism (Parkinson’s-like symptoms)
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
Expanded Locations: Added new areas of service that qualify for presumptive status, including Vietnam’s airspace, certain bases in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll, as well as all veterans who served offshore in the waters of Vietnam (“Blue Water Navy” veterans).
Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral used for many years in things like insulation and fire-resistant materials. Because it was so good at stopping fires, it was used extensively in military ships, vehicles, and buildings, particularly during the mid-20th century. The health problems from asbestos can take a very long time to show up, sometimes 20 to 50 years after exposure.
Health Risks: When a person breathes in asbestos fibers, they can get very serious illnesses, including:
- Mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs/abdomen).
- Asbestosis (lung scarring).
- Lung Cancer.
Proving Exposure: Asbestos-related conditions are not presumptive under the PACT Act. Veterans must file a Direct-Service Connection claim, which requires specific evidence proving exposure and a strong medical opinion.
Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
For many years, service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina drank and bathed in contaminated water.
Exposure Period: From August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, the water was poisoned with dangerous chemicals (mainly TCE, PCE, and Vinyl Chloride).
VA Presumptive Conditions: Veterans who served for at least 30 cumulative days during this period and have one of the following eight diseases have presumptive service connection for VA disability: Adult leukemia, Aplastic anemia/myelodysplastic syndromes, Bladder cancer, Kidney cancer, Liver cancer, Multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Parkinson’s disease.
Beyond VA Disability: The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA)
The PACT Act incorporated the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA). This is a separate legal pathway that allows veterans and their family members who were exposed to the water to file a lawsuit in federal court to seek damages for injuries. This is distinct from a VA disability claim.
PFAS (Aqueous Film Forming Foam)
PFAS are man-made chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily. They were a key part of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), a special fire-fighting foam used for training at military airfields and bases.
Health Risks: Exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health problems, including kidney and testicular cancers, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, and other immune or developmental issues.
VA Status: PFAS-related conditions are not currently presumptive. However, the PACT Act granted VA health care eligibility for veterans exposed to toxins, including PFAS. Furthermore, the VA is conducting a scientific assessment to determine if specific conditions, such as kidney cancer, should be added to the presumptive list. You can file an individual claim, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Proving Your Toxic Exposure Claim
While the PACT Act created many presumptive conditions, not all exposures are covered (e.g., all PFAS claims, Asbestos, etc.). For these, you must file a Direct Service Connection claim, which requires two key pieces of evidence:
- Evidence of Exposure: Records, witness statements, or environmental studies showing you were at a specific location or performing a specific duty where the toxin was present.
- Medical Nexus Letter: This is a crucial document. It is a medical opinion from a qualified physician that explicitly states your current illness is “at least as likely as not” caused by your specific military service exposure. This letter legally connects your medical condition to your service, which is a step the VA does not automatically perform for non-presumptive conditions.
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Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. VA claim results depend on each veteran’s unique service history, medical records, and evidence. For help with your claim, speak with an accredited representative or attorney.
