Burn Pit Smoke and Brain Injuries A recent study on the effects of burn pit exposure in military service members will be published this month. This study focuses on the effects of burn pit exposure on the brain. The research collected data from 440,000 troops who were stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan…

VET PFAS Act On May 29, 2025, Congressman Mike Lawler and Congressman Josh Riley announced the VET PFAS Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to further the toxic exposure coverage of benefits to Veterans and their dependents (including in utero) who were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The…

VA Announces Changes To Their Survivor Benefits Program VA has come up with three steps to reduce barriers that survivors and dependents face when applying for VA benefits. These steps include: The Office of Survivors Assistance is moving back to the Office of the VA Secretary. VA will create a "White-Glove" survivor…

Camp Lejeune Justice Act Updates The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law as part of the PACT Act on August 10, 2022 and allowed veterans and civilians to file for damages for adverse health effects related to their exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The deadline to file…

VA Disability Rates 2025 COLA The 2025 Cost of living adjustments (COLA) will be applied starting December 1, 2024. To learn more about the cost of living adjustment, learn more on the VA website. 10% – 20% (No Dependents) Percentage Rate 10% $175.51 20% $346.95 30% – 60% Without Children Dependent Status…

VA Is Taking Steps To Expand Benefits To K2 Veterans And Their Families VA is taking steps to expand access to benefits for Veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001. Making chronic multi-symptom illness a presumptive condition for K2 Veterans. Recognition of exposures at K2 as…

VA Updated Their Burn Pit Registry The Veteran Affairs has launched their redesigned Burn Pit Registry. Veterans can register with the database which will help VA better understand and research how toxic exposure affected Veterans during their service.   “The Burn Pit Registry is fueling groundbreaking research and enabling VA’s ability to identify…

1.1 Million Granted to Veterans and Their Survivors so Far This Year The Department of Veteran Affairs has surpassed the record for granted benefits in a year. VA has granted benefits to 1.1 million Veterans and their survivors in fiscal year 2024.  “Our goal is to make sure every Veteran and every…

New Presumptions of Service Connection Under the PACT Act On June 14, 2024 VA included three new cancer types to the list of presumptive conditions under the PACT Act.  Male Breast Cancer Urethral Cancer Cancer of the Paraurethral Glands "This policy establishes presumptions of service connection for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11…

New Traumatic Brain Injury Testing Device 15min Results The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the use of a new Traumatic brain injury (TBI) detection device. Deployed medics can utilize this new portable device in the field to decide which wounded service member needs to be treated first. With only one drop…