Many veterans who served at military bases in Southwest Asia and other overseas locations were exposed to significant environmental hazards, including open-air burn pits used to dispose of waste. These burn pits released toxic smoke and particulate matter containing plastics, chemicals, medical waste, and other hazardous materials. Veterans exposed to burn pit smoke frequently developed respiratory diseases, cancers, and other serious health conditions. The VA now recognizes that burn pit exposure during military service can cause service-connected disabilities, and veterans exposed to these environmental hazards can file claims for disability benefits. This article explains what occupational exposures veterans experienced, which conditions qualify for disability compensation, how veterans establish service connection for exposure-related illnesses, and how veterans can maximize benefits for occupational exposure disabilities.

What Are Burn Pits and Open-Air Burn Barrels?

Burn pits were open-air disposal sites used at many military bases in Southwest Asia to dispose of waste. Rather than transporting waste off-base for proper disposal, the military operations used burn pits for convenience and cost savings. These pits burned enormous quantities of materials including:

• Plastics and rubber
• Medical waste
• Electronic equipment
• Ammunition
• Chemicals
• Fuel and petroleum products
• Aluminum cans and metals
• Batteries and other hazardous materials

Veterans who worked near these burn pits, lived downwind of burn pits, or were stationed at bases with burn pit operations inhaled smoke and toxic particulates daily. The smoke contained dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde, and other carcinogenic substances.

Smaller military operations used open-air burn barrels rather than large pits, but the exposure hazard was similar. A veteran stationed at a base using burn barrels was exposed to the same toxic smoke and hazardous materials.

Occupational Exposures Beyond Burn Pits

While burn pits are the most well-known occupational exposure, veterans experienced various other environmental hazards during military service:

Dust and Particulate Exposure: Veterans serving in desert environments breathed dust and sand containing toxic minerals and particles. Prolonged exposure to this dust caused respiratory disease in veterans.

Chemical Exposures: Veterans were exposed to pesticides, herbicides (including Agent Orange), decontamination chemicals, and various industrial chemicals during military service. A veteran working in supply, maintenance, or combat support roles may have had significant chemical exposure.

Asbestos Exposure: Some older military facilities contained asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, roofing, and other materials. Veterans stationed at these facilities inhaled asbestos fibers, increasing their risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Radiation Exposure: Veterans who served at nuclear weapons testing sites, in areas with uranium or plutonium contamination, or in other radiation-exposure areas may have received harmful radiation exposure.

Contaminated Water: The Camp Lejeune water contamination exposed thousands of veterans to benzene, tetrachloroethylene (TCE), and other carcinogenic chemicals through contaminated drinking water.

Health Conditions from Occupational Exposures

Veterans exposed to burn pits and other occupational hazards developed serious health conditions:

Respiratory Diseases: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis, and constrictive bronchiolitis resulted from inhalation of burn pit smoke and dust. A veteran with occupational respiratory disease experiences breathlessness, chronic cough, and progressive functional decline.

Cancers: Lung cancer, throat cancer, esophageal cancer, and other malignancies developed in veterans exposed to carcinogenic smoke and particulates. The latency period for cancer development can be years or decades after exposure.

Heart Disease: Exposure to burn pit smoke increased the risk of cardiovascular disease in veterans. A veteran exposed to occupational hazards has increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiac conditions.

Neurological Conditions: Some veterans exposed to burn pit smoke and toxic chemicals developed neurological symptoms including tremors, cognitive problems, and other neurological manifestations.

Skin Conditions: Rashes, burns, and other skin conditions resulted from exposure to caustic chemicals in burn pit smoke.

The PACT Act and Burn Pit Presumptive Conditions

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, enacted in 2022 and expanded in subsequent years, dramatically expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other occupational hazards.

Under the PACT Act, veterans who served in Southwest Asia for at least 30 days during specified time periods have presumptive conditions related to burn pit and occupational exposures. These presumptive conditions include:

Asthma: A veteran with asthma diagnosed at any point can establish presumptive service connection if the veteran served in the qualifying location and timeframe.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Veterans with COPD have presumptive service connection for this serious lung disease.

Lung Cancer: Veterans diagnosed with lung cancer can establish presumptive service connection, significantly easing the claims process.

Bronchitis: Chronic bronchitis is presumptively service-connected for qualifying veterans.

Constrictive Bronchiolitis: This rare but serious lung disease is presumptively service-connected.

Gastric Ulcers and Gastritis: Some veterans exposed to burn pit smoke developed gastrointestinal conditions that are presumptively service-connected.

The PACT Act expanded these lists multiple times, and further expansions may occur. Veterans should check the VA website regularly for updates to presumptive conditions.

How Veterans Establish Service Connection for Occupational Exposures

A veteran can establish service connection for occupational exposure illnesses through multiple pathways:

Presumptive Service Connection: If a veteran served in Southwest Asia for at least 30 days during qualifying periods and has a diagnosed condition on the PACT Act presumptive list, the veteran can file a claim indicating presumptive service connection. The veteran doesn’t need to prove exposure or causation—the VA presumes the connection based on the veteran’s service location and diagnosis.

Direct Service Connection: A veteran can establish direct service connection by showing the veteran was exposed to occupational hazards during service and developed a resulting condition. This requires medical evidence linking the veteran’s current condition to the service-related exposure.

Evidence of Exposure: To claim direct service connection, a veteran should gather evidence of occupational exposure including:

• Military records documenting the veteran’s service location and duties
• Unit history or deployment records showing burn pit operations
• Medical records from military service documenting exposure-related symptoms
• Statements from fellow veterans confirming burn pit operations and exposure
• The veteran’s personal account of exposure and symptoms

Filing a Burn Pit or Occupational Exposure Disability Claim

To file a claim for burn pit-related or occupational exposure disability, a veteran submits VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation).

When filing, the veteran should:

Clearly indicate if filing for a presumptive condition under the PACT Act or if claiming direct service connection for an occupational exposure illness. Provide military service records documenting the veteran’s service location and timeframe. Include a medical diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider confirming the veteran’s condition. Provide medical records documenting the veteran’s condition and symptoms. Include a personal statement describing the veteran’s service duties, exposure to occupational hazards, and the development of the veteran’s condition. If available, provide statements from fellow veterans corroborating exposure conditions.

Disabilities Rated Under Occupational Exposure Claims

Once the VA approves a veteran’s occupational exposure claim, the veteran’s disability is rated based on its severity and functional impact. For example:

A veteran with newly diagnosed asthma might receive a 0% or 10% rating if symptoms are minimal and controlled with occasional medication. A veteran with moderate asthma requiring regular medication and causing some functional limitation might receive a 20-30% rating. A veteran with severe COPD causing significant functional impairment and requiring supplemental oxygen might receive a 50-60% or higher rating.

The VA rates respiratory conditions based on the veteran’s pulmonary function test results, oxygen levels, and functional limitations. A veteran with lung cancer receives a rating reflecting the cancer stage, treatment required, and prognosis.

Combining Occupational Exposure Disabilities with Other Service-Connected Conditions

Many veterans have multiple service-connected disabilities including occupational exposure illnesses. For example, a veteran might have PTSD and burn pit-related COPD, or hearing loss and lung cancer from occupational exposure.

All service-connected conditions are included in the veteran’s combined rating calculation. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to determine your combined rating when you have occupational exposure disabilities plus other service-connected conditions. The calculator helps you understand how each disability contributes to your total rating and monthly compensation.

Secondary Conditions from Occupational Exposures

Veterans should also file claims for conditions secondary to occupational exposure disabilities. For example:

A veteran with service-connected COPD may develop severe anxiety due to breathing difficulties and activity limitations. This anxiety is secondary to the COPD and can be rated separately. A veteran with burn pit-related lung cancer may develop depression as a result of cancer diagnosis and treatment. This depression can be rated as secondary to the cancer. A veteran with occupational respiratory disease may develop sleep apnea as a secondary condition.

Secondary conditions increase a veteran’s combined rating, potentially resulting in significantly higher monthly disability compensation.

Long-Term Disability Management for Occupational Exposures

Occupational exposure illnesses like COPD and lung cancer are chronic conditions requiring long-term management. A veteran with occupational exposure disability should:

Establish regular care with VA healthcare providers specializing in the veteran’s condition. Keep all medical appointments to maintain updated documentation of the veteran’s condition. Obtain pulmonary function tests, imaging studies, and other diagnostic testing as recommended to document disease progression. Report condition worsening to the VA, as this may warrant a rating increase request.

A veteran who maintains good medical documentation and regular VA care has a strong foundation for rating increases if the veteran’s condition worsens over time.

Planning Rating Increases for Occupational Exposures

Veterans with occupational exposure disabilities should monitor their conditions for worsening and plan rating increase claims accordingly. For example:

A veteran with a 20% COPD rating who develops worsening breathing problems, requires supplemental oxygen, or shows pulmonary function test decline should file for a rating increase. A veteran diagnosed with an occupational exposure-related cancer should monitor treatment progression and file for rating increases reflecting advancing disease.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to model how rating increases in your occupational exposure disability would affect your combined rating and monthly compensation. This helps you understand the financial impact of rating increases and prioritize efforts to document condition worsening.

Seeking VA Healthcare for Occupational Exposures

Veterans with occupational exposure illnesses should establish care through the VA healthcare system. The VA provides specialized care for:

• Respiratory diseases and pulmonary rehabilitation
• Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care
• Occupational disease management
• Mental health services for anxiety and depression secondary to occupational illnesses

Establishing VA healthcare accomplishes two goals: it ensures the veteran receives appropriate medical treatment, and it creates medical documentation supporting disability claims and rating increase requests.

Survivor Benefits for Veterans with Occupational Exposures

If a veteran with an occupational exposure disability dies, the veteran’s surviving family members may qualify for survivor benefits including:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children
• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments
• VA healthcare through CHAMPVA for surviving family members

A veteran with a serious occupational exposure illness should ensure the veteran’s family understands these survivor benefits and that the veteran’s VA account is current.

Appealing Denied Occupational Exposure Claims

If the VA denies a veteran’s occupational exposure disability claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional medical evidence of the condition
• Obtaining statements from fellow veterans confirming exposure
• Working with a representative who understands occupational exposure claims
• Filing appeals when new presumptive conditions are added to the PACT Act

If your occupational exposure claim was previously denied and new presumptive conditions have been added since your denial, you may be able to file a new claim under the updated presumptive list.

Conclusion

Veterans exposed to burn pits, occupational hazards, and environmental contaminants during military service frequently developed serious health conditions qualifying for VA disability compensation. The PACT Act made it significantly easier for veterans to establish service connection for these conditions through presumptive status. If you served in Southwest Asia or other locations with known occupational exposures and developed respiratory, cancerous, or other health conditions, you likely qualify for disability benefits. File a claim under PACT Act presumptive provisions or establish direct service connection through medical evidence. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and monthly compensation when occupational exposure disabilities are combined with other service-connected conditions. Your exposure to occupational hazards during military service was part of your military obligation, and you deserve compensation for the health conditions resulting from that exposure. Pursue your disability benefits and ensure your family understands the survivor benefits available if your occupational illness becomes life-threatening.