![handle is hein.crs/goveeil0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional
a Research Service
informing the I gislative debate since 1914____________________
VA Now Processing Gulf War Veterans'
Disability Claims for New Respiratory
Presumptive Conditions
August 16, 2021
Background
On August 2, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will begin processing disability
claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to particulate
matter (such as burn pit emissions) during servicemembers' deployment to Southwest Asia and certain
other countries. This update in presumptive conditions comes after VASecretary Denis McDonough
informed Congress on June 16, 2021, that he has recommended initiation of rulemaking to establish a
presumption of service connection for respiratoiy conditions related to exposure to particulate matter and
other airborne hazards, which may conclude [sic] such conditions as asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis for
Gulf War Veterans. This decision was based on the first iteration of a newly formed internal VA process to
review scientific evidence relating to exposures. Less than two months later, on August 5, 2021, VA
began to adjudicate veterans' claims for the aforementioned conditions.
Veterans and Conditions Covered
VA published an interim final rule on August 5, 2021, amending its adjudication regulations to establish
presumptive service connection for specific respiratory conditions due to a servicemember's exposure to
particulate matter. VA's decision resulted from internal procedures outlined in VA Directive 0215 to
review the evidence and analysis of scientific reports including those from the National Academies of
Science (NAS). VA reviewed the following reports:
National Research Council's 2010 Review of the Department of Defense Enhanced
Particulate Matter Surveillance Program Report;
Institute of Medicine's 2011 report on Long-Term Consequences of Exposure to Burn Pits
in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
NAS's 2020 report on Respiratory Health Effects ofAirborne Hazards Exposures in the
Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11724
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Membersand
Committeesof Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/goveeil0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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