Articles
Mesothelioma and Navy Veterans: The Asbestos Legacy
Why Navy veterans face elevated rates of asbestos-related mesothelioma, how the VA evaluates these claims, and what veterans and families can do.
Red Hill: The Fuel Crisis That Threatened Pearl Harbor's Water
How a 2021 jet fuel leak at the Red Hill facility tainted the Navy water system, sickened thousands of families, and forced the tanks to close.
How the VA Rates Cancer for Disability Compensation
The VA generally rates active cancer at 100 percent, then re-examines after about six months and rates the residual damage left behind.
Burn Pits: The Signature Toxic Exposure of the Post-9/11 Wars
Open-air burn pits at bases like Joint Base Balad exposed millions of service members to toxic smoke, prompting a federal registry and a long list of PACT Act presumptive conditions.
Agent Orange: Vietnam Veterans and a Toxic Legacy
How Agent Orange spraying in Vietnam led to decades of advocacy, and which VA presumptive benefits, including PACT Act additions like hypertension and MGUS, are available today.
The Military Moves Away From AFFF Firefighting Foam
After five decades of use, the Defense Department is replacing PFAS-based AFFF with fluorine-free foam, a transition Congress mandated and one that leaves significant cleanup work behind.
Filing a VA Disability Claim for Toxic Exposure: Step by Step
A practical walkthrough of the VA disability claim process for toxic exposure, from gathering service records to the C&P exam, supplemental claims, and free help from accredited VSOs.
Camp Lejeune Claims in 2026: Where Things Stand
More than 400,000 Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims were filed before the 2024 deadline, and in 2026 settlements are growing while the first trials approach.
Cancer Screening for Veterans: What the VA Offers
A guide to the cancer screenings VA health care provides, who qualifies for each, and how to request the PACT Act toxic exposure screening.
Military Firefighters and PFAS: The Highest Exposure Job
Why military firefighters carried some of the heaviest AFFF and PFAS exposure, what blood testing has shown, and what screenings exist now.
Gulf War Illness: Three Decades of Unanswered Questions
More than 30 years after Desert Storm, researchers are still working to explain the chronic multisymptom illness reported by as many as one in four Gulf War veterans.
The PACT Act: What It Means for Veterans Exposed to Toxics
The 2022 PACT Act added 20+ presumptive conditions including many cancers, expanded eligibility across generations, and has no filing deadline.
Legal Guidance in Your Fight Against Cancer: Navigating VA Benefits
How veterans facing cancer can navigate VA disability benefits, eligibility, evidence, and where to find help with a claim.
Pentagon Study Reveals Elevated Cancer Risks Among Military Pilots and Ground Crews
A Pentagon study reported by The Wall Street Journal found elevated cancer rates among military pilots and ground crews.
The Unsung Struggle: Military Veterans and the Hidden Threat of Deployment-Related Cancer
Beyond PTSD and visible wounds, toxic exposure during deployment leaves many veterans facing cancer years after their service ends.
Hidden Costs of Service: Cancerous Water at Superfund Sites
One veteran's story of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, and what Superfund designation means for those who served.