Since 2014, VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry has been an important tool for recent Veterans and service members to record their airborne hazard exposures and related health conditions, with an optional examination with a health care provider to learn more.

A total of 327,626 Veterans and service members have joined the registry as of Aug. 17, 2022, and this number continues to grow.

VA is making several changes to the registry to expand eligibility and make it easier to use. You are now eligible to participate if you were deployed to one of three new locations: Syria or Uzbekistan since Sept. 11, 2001, or Egypt since August 1990.

Other Veterans and service members who can participate include those who deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations any time after Aug. 2, 1990, or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

In addition, VA is making the registry more user-friendly and ensuring that Veterans have the option to have an in-person health exam.

These changes include:

  • VA is revising the questionnaire to abbreviate questions about short deployments. This will save you time when you complete the questionnaire.
  • Registry participants can now return to the questionnaire portal at any time after completion to add additional deployments. Previously, registrants were only allowed one-time access.
  • Veterans should be contacted within 90 days by their local VA medical facility to schedule the exam if they opt to have one. Veterans may also contact their local Environmental Health Coordinator to learn more or if they have changed addresses or email contact since requesting an examination.

Please note that the registry is separate from the VA disability compensation process and is not required to file a claim. Additionally, under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, all Veterans enrolled in health care will receive a toxic exposure screening, which is also separate from the burn pit registry.

Sign up in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry

In addition to improvements to the registry, VA is helping Veterans with airborne hazard exposure concerns by requiring all VA health care providers to take a training on environmental exposure assessments.

VA is also partnering with the American College of Preventive Medicine to offer a certificate program on military environmental exposures, which provides additional training for VA and community providers.

If you haven’t already participated in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, now is a great time to sign up.  Learn more by visiting the secure registry portal at HOME – Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (va.gov).

To read more stories on the Airborne Hazards and Open Pit Registry, visit https://news.va.gov/?s=Airborne%20Hazards%20and%20Open%20Pit%20Registry.

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25 Comments

  1. Andrea Hrusovsky September 16, 2022 at 09:01

    What about exposure to Jet A and Avgas as a pilot when we sometimes had to fuel our aircraft ?

  2. JohnE' September 7, 2022 at 09:54

    Beware of ‘strangers’ bearing gifts!
    No one or nobody offers something for nothing and doesn’t expect something in return!

  3. Ronnie Atkinson September 6, 2022 at 21:07

    Why are those of us that were on the Korean DMZ for months at a time not recognized? In the 70’s I burned more human waste (No Protective Equipment) than I care to remember not to mention filling an untold number of sandbags. I have been through prostate cancer and have type 2 diabetes which a lot of Veterans exposed to Agent Orange also had. I didn’t have those issues until after the DMZ. We deserve compensation!!

  4. Carlos Corrales September 6, 2022 at 17:08

    WE USED TO BURNED HUMAN WASTE ( TURDS) IN VIET-NAM 1970 ON A DAILY BASES !

  5. cw4 Tommy Schmitt September 4, 2022 at 00:09

    shame on you. this is bs

  6. cw4 Tommy Schmitt September 4, 2022 at 00:08

    this registry is bs……….i know after 43 years of military service. ashamed I am. i called hou registry and they confirm this is not a viable program.
    tommy schmitt

  7. David R. Tetreault August 30, 2022 at 14:30

    I was exposed to soot dust sand and dirt coming in on acft wheel/tire assembly from the first gulf war. Was never provided any kind of PPE to protect my self from said airborne particles while disassembling wheel/tire assy. I worked C-130 acft tire shop at Hurlburt Field

  8. Walter T Holmes August 30, 2022 at 08:47

    I was part of the MFO in EGYPT July 85 we burned human waste and trash do we fall into the Pact Act?

  9. Luis Humphreys August 29, 2022 at 22:15

    What about Vietnam Veterans? This was a daily activity for 365 days.

  10. James Monko August 29, 2022 at 19:57

    I have been exposed to asbestos, black mold, and radon. This is during the Vietnam era. I have had asthma for 51 years now. I want to be tested like other veterans. My barracks was so infected with all irritants the U S Coast Guard knocked it down. . Help me too.

  11. Gene Molnar August 29, 2022 at 19:53

    What about the Viet Nam Era veterans in Thailand Udorn Royal Thai AFB exposed to toxic herbicies, Agent Orange and chemicals associated with jet fuel and exhaust who have already filed a claim and are waiting on approval of claim? Who also met the presumptive health conditions. Where do they stand? In other words do they get approved first or are they going to be sent to the back of the line or do they have to resubmit claim when VA already have all the necessary to approve claim?

  12. lamar curtis peterson August 29, 2022 at 18:30

    Hello i have a concern what about people who were exposed to various chemicals on prior to 1990 i was in the navy and i was a storekeeper from 1976 thru 1988 i was in charge all the chemicals that the fleet would use we had no mask no protective wear we had spills and we handled various chemicals now i have breathing problems and it seems the military does not care. So what should i do?

  13. Kelvin Torrence August 29, 2022 at 17:40

    Start taking care of us because we took care of you,and should make more then those worthless pricks in government who don’t do crap

  14. Stephen P Hamilton August 27, 2022 at 16:14

    I was diagnosed with R.A.D.S (Reactionary Airway Disease Syndrome) since 2005, but never received
    disability compensation for it. I served in both Gulf war(s), but received no disability for my lungs.

    Can you please help me! The Pulmonologists here in Tucson,AZ on Ajo and 6th Avenue are playing games
    with my PFT exams by me taking my medication before and after the lung function tests and say there`s nothing wrong
    But earlier tests I`ve taken before the medication and results proved that my breathing is in dire consequences.

    I would really appreciate if I can get disability increase for my lungs. Thank You for your time Sir(s), Ma`am.

  15. donald August 26, 2022 at 21:23

    What about Vietnam Vets, we had burn pits all the time. Human waste burn pits were common at bases.

  16. Roger Coakley August 26, 2022 at 11:13

    What about us old guys who flew fighters over North Vietnam out of Thailand?

  17. Charles Williams August 26, 2022 at 10:17

    Does Fort Mccullen fall into the Pact act?

  18. Ricky August 25, 2022 at 21:58

    we had plenty of burn pits in Germany 1986-1990 but we are not eligible

    • Orville W Anderson August 27, 2022 at 18:06

      I signed up for the Airborne Hazard and Burn Pit Registry after I got back from the Gulf War 1991-1992. How do we find out if we are still on it?

    • Steven August 28, 2022 at 22:39

      We are the “Invisible Veterans”

    • Joe August 29, 2022 at 23:46

      Yeah! I feel ya on that one Rick. I am also a veteran of that era (1984-88) with a tour in Germany stationed in hanau with numerous deployment to graf. Truck driver/pol. Sounds like exposure to me also. Question to ask is do we qualify for a fast track claim. I had numerous sick calls due to dizziness,nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea diagnosed as gastroenteritis. Since discharged I’ve been diagnosed with gerd w/polys removal. Hardening of the arteries w/heart attack and numerous other ailments. Read an excerpt posting that graf was/is toxic

  19. James W Strickland PhD August 25, 2022 at 21:01

    What about a veteran like myself who was at Utapao Thailand during the Vietnam war and when agent orange was used and sprayed I had prostate cancer, filed but was denied saying I had to have been in Vietnam.

    • George P Walker September 12, 2022 at 13:17

      I got the same thing to.” deployed From 1979 – 81 South PACIFIC , INDIAN Ocean Persian Gulf 1984 Ok Inowa . 1985 South Korea – Camp Lejeune1978 1984 1986L Left service
      I WAS sick A Lot Inservice Infection, Rashes Cellulitis IBS Gerd with No Explanations PTSD . No one Listens.

  20. Juan Martinez August 25, 2022 at 17:42

    Does this include Navy veterans who were deployed to the Persian Gulf theater of operations during that time?

  21. Roosevelt Oggs Sr August 24, 2022 at 22:15

    I registered in as soon as I heard about the Burn Pit story. I had 3 exams and filed claims and have not heard from anyone since.
    I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (VA). My last deployment was Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan June 2011 to October 2011. Will I be contacted by someone when the time comes?

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