burn pits

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.

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.

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.

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 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.