02-28-2022, 11:38 PM
Are You Eligible To File For Benefits?
Were you exposed to hazardous materials while serving in the military, such as from Agent
Orange or burn pits? Did you serve in Vietnam, Thailand or Southwest Asia? If so, you may be
eligible to file for service-connected benefits based on presumptive exposure. Over the course of
the last six months VA has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new
presumptive conditions related to exposure to hazardous materials.
In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M.Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism
and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to
Agent Orange. A few months later, VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include
rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military
service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas. Any Veteran who was previously denied
service-connection for any of these six conditions but had symptoms manifest within 10 years of
military service would need to file another claim.
Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, “Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim” when
filing. An online fillable one is available at
https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=va+for...UTF-8&fp=1
The claim form should include the name of the
medical condition and also specify that the medical condition is being claimed due to in-service
exposure to environmental hazards. VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been
exposed to hazardous materials during their military service. Be sure to stay plugged in to
www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental hazards; VA is constantly
conducting research and surveillance, as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that
may be related to exposure during military service.
If you feel you have a chronic condition attributed to an in-service exposure, we highly
encourage you to file a claim.
Were you exposed to hazardous materials while serving in the military, such as from Agent
Orange or burn pits? Did you serve in Vietnam, Thailand or Southwest Asia? If so, you may be
eligible to file for service-connected benefits based on presumptive exposure. Over the course of
the last six months VA has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new
presumptive conditions related to exposure to hazardous materials.
In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M.Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism
and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to
Agent Orange. A few months later, VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include
rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military
service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas. Any Veteran who was previously denied
service-connection for any of these six conditions but had symptoms manifest within 10 years of
military service would need to file another claim.
Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, “Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim” when
filing. An online fillable one is available at
https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=va+for...UTF-8&fp=1
The claim form should include the name of the
medical condition and also specify that the medical condition is being claimed due to in-service
exposure to environmental hazards. VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been
exposed to hazardous materials during their military service. Be sure to stay plugged in to
www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental hazards; VA is constantly
conducting research and surveillance, as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that
may be related to exposure during military service.
If you feel you have a chronic condition attributed to an in-service exposure, we highly
encourage you to file a claim.