The Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) has reported that approximately 1.5 million veterans have sought disability benefits due to medical conditions related to toxic exposure. These applications came after the passage of the PACT Act, which was created to assist veterans with getting benefits for disabilities related to toxic exposure they may have experienced during their service. It is a positive sign that the VA’s outreach efforts have been effective, but there is still more work to be done.
What is Toxic Exposure?
In the context of military service, toxic exposure refers to when a veteran suffers negative health consequences as a result of being exposed to poisonous or carcinogenic substances. While it can have immediate and severe consequences in some cases, in many others the impact may not become apparent until years afterwards. This can make it difficult to tie the effects of service-related exposure to the medical problems it can cause.
How Do Veterans Suffer From Toxic Exposure?
There are sadly many ways that a veteran may be exposed to toxic substances during the course of their service. Most notably, in a series of cases that led to the passage of the PACT Act in the first place, many veterans suffered from toxic exposure due to burn pits operated on military bases, which disposed of toxic waste through burning. However, they may also have been exposed through things like contaminated food or water sources, as happened in the case of the Camp Lejeune water contamination cases.
What Are the Effects of Toxic Exposure?
The symptoms of exposure to these sorts of substances are varied and differ significantly from person to person, but they tend to have several common factors. For example, veterans who suffer from this type of exposure are more likely to have certain long-term diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, which are otherwise rare in the general population. Veterans who suffer from toxic exposure are also far more likely to get certain rare cancers, which is potentially indicative of exposure to carcinogenic substances.
What Should You Do?
If you are a veteran who has potentially suffered from toxic exposure, you may be eligible for disability benefits under the PACT Act. However, to know if you qualify, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling veterans disability claims. They can help go over your case and ensure you get the benefits you deserve.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe place a special focus on assisting disabled veterans. Our veterans’ disability lawyers are still available for remote consultation on your legal issues. Call our office at (800) 395-7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office, or visit our contact page.
