Veterans Affairs Screens 5 Million Veterans for Toxic Exposures

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Tuesday that it has successfully screened 5 million veterans for potential toxic exposures. This achievement comes after the passing of the PACT Act by Congress and its subsequent signing by President Biden in 2022. However, the exact number of veterans diagnosed with related medical issues remains unknown.

The VA has set a goal to screen all veterans enrolled in VA health care for any toxic exposure. "We have made significant progress toward our goal to screen all veterans enrolled in VA health care for toxic exposures at least once every five years," stated VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal. "But most importantly, this milestone means we've had 5 million opportunities to provide veterans with the exposure-informed care they deserve."

The PACT Act Benefits Veterans

The PACT Act was a long time coming for many veterans who struggled to link chronic conditions to their time spent at war. The law takes some of the burden of proof from veterans, taking a "presumptive" approach that links asthma, some cancers and other illnesses to burn pit exposure.

When veterans are initially screened, VA health providers ask them if they believe they experienced any toxic exposures while in the military. Veterans who say "yes" are asked follow-up questions, and offered connections to information on benefits, other clinical resources and registry-related medical exams, according to the VA. Any responses veterans give during the screenings are added to their VA medical records.

Mr. Biden has, at times, speculated that exposure to burn pits during the Iraq War could have contributed to his son's ultimately fatal brain cancer, although no connection has been formally established. That made the fight to pass the PACT Act, and with it, more funding for veterans' health care, personal to the president.