U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Carmichael of the WES Team disposes of trash at a burn pit in FOB Zeebrudge, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 6, 2013. (Photo: Sgt. Anthony L. Ortiz / U.S. Marine Corps Released)
The VA has redesigned the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, Burn Pit Research Registry, to better understand, research, and improve treatment for health issues affecting Veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their service.
This registry is an important research tool that allows the VA to identify and study health challenges across the Veteran and Service Member population, thereby enhancing care and benefits for future generations. The updated registry will now include over 4.7 million Veterans and Service Members who meet the participation criteria based on Department of Defense records.
Participation in the registry is voluntary, and opting in or out does not affect an individual’s eligibility for VA health care or benefits. Those who do not wish to participate can opt out via an online form. According to Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D., the registry drives groundbreaking research and helps the VA proactively address health challenges faced by toxic-exposed Veterans. The expanded registry, which has reduced participation requirements, will facilitate important research in the years to come.
The registry includes Veterans and Service Members, both living and deceased, who served in specific military operations and locations from August 2, 1990, to August 31, 2021. These include Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn, as well as service in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and several others in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, Veterans stationed at locations using open burn pits post-September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Egypt, or Syria are also included.
The registry data includes deployment locations, military personnel information, and demographics, but it does not store medical information. This data is accessible only to select VA epidemiologists and researchers, and will be used for long-term research to inform VA policy decisions, particularly those related to presumptive conditions.
Veterans seeking screenings, health care, or benefits for toxic exposures are encouraged to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
