U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
AIRBORNE HAZARDS & OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY
REPORT YOUR EXPOSURES
Exposure to airborne hazards such as burn pit smoke may cause health effects. In June 2014, VA opened the "Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry" for Veterans and Servicemembers.
CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY
Based on deployment information from the Department of Defense (DoD), registry participation is open to Veterans and Servicemembers who deployed to contingency operations in the Southwest Asia theater of operations at any time on or after August 2, 1990, or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after September 11, 2001. These regions include the following countries, bodies of water, and the airspace above these locations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea.
BENEFITS OF REGISTERING
- Better health awareness: Participating in the registry will create a snapshot of your health from which to measure changes over time
- Health discussion: You can make an appointment to discuss your questionnaire with your health provider and determine the need for additional evaluation. Participants who discuss their completed questionnaire with a provider will gain better health awareness. You can print your questionnaire, and VA providers can also access an online copy.
- Better long-term health care: Help VA better understand the effects of environmental exposures on health, leading to improved health care for you and for all Veterans
- Follow-up communications: As VA learns more, they will share this information with participants
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
The registry is a database of health information voluntarily provided by Veterans and Servicemembers that will help VA to collect, analyze, and report on health conditions that may be related to environmental exposures experienced during deployment.
- Set up a Premium DS Logon Level 2 account. Visit www.ebenefits.va.gov for more information.
- Visit https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/ AHBurnPitRegistry to get started. You can complete it all at once, or log out and return later.
- Print the questionnaire for your records.
- Contact your local environmental health coordinator, found at https://www.publichealth. va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, to set up a free optional registry evaluation focusing on your airborne hazards exposure concerns. Completing the registry online does not cue VA to call you to schedule an exam.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGISTRY TO SUBMIT A CLAIM FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION THROUGH VA?
Veterans do not need to participate in the registry to submit a claim for disability compensation. The registry and the disability compensation processes are separate and not related. Veterans can find information on how to submit a claim for disability compensation through VA at the following link: http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/
WHAT IS A BURN PIT?
The use of burn pits was a common waste disposal practice at military sites outside of the U.S. such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. Smoke and other emissions from these pits contained an unknown mixture of substances that may have short and long-term health effects, especially for individuals who were exposed for longer periods or those with preexisting conditions such as asthma or other lung or heart conditions.
WHY DOES THE QUESTIONNAIRE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CURRENT JOB AND HOBBIES?
It is important for medical providers to have a complete picture of your health. The questionnaire asks a broad range of questions because an individual's health is greatly influenced by their lifestyle. Health conditions can worsen over time from additional or prolonged exposures received during work or recreation. Note: Your current or past jobs, hobbies, civilian exposures, and lifestyle will not affect eligibility for benefits.
CONNECT WITH US:
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES AT WWW.PUBLICHEALTH.VA.GOV
VISIT https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry
WHAT TO EXPECT
The questionnaire takes about 40 minutes to complete. The questions have been designed to give VA a broad picture of your health and current and past exposures. You will be asked a series of questions in the following categories:
- Deployment timeframes and bases to which you were stationed
- Conditions and health issues that cause difficulty with daily activities
- Current and past health symptoms
- Residential history (where you lived)
- Occupational history (what type of work you do)
- Dust, gas, vapors or fumes exposures
- Home environment and hobbies
- Health care use
- Contact preferences