Have you heard about the new toxic exposure screening?
If you’re enrolled in VA health care, you can now receive the toxic exposure screening at VA medical centers and clinics across the country. If you’re not enrolled but meet eligibility requirements to enroll, you will have an opportunity to receive the screening after you enroll.
During your screening, you’ll be asked if you believe you experienced toxic exposures during your military service. If you answer yes, you may be connected to support and resources, including a review by your primary care team or provider.
Get to know the process
As the screening becomes a regular part of your health care, you may have some questions. Here are some quick facts to get to know the process:
- It’s quick. The screening is a series of questions that takes around 5-10 minutes and can occur as part of one of your regular health care appointments.
- It documents a variety of exposures. There are several types of possible exposures or hazards you may have experienced during your military service. This includes open burn pits and airborne hazards, Gulf War-related exposures, Agent Orange, radiation, Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure and others.
- It helps support your long-term care plan. The purpose of the toxic exposure screening is to make your VA health care team aware of any potential exposures to toxins during your military service. This allows for ongoing care that ensures early diagnosis and treatment of any health concerns that may arise in the future related to your exposure(s). If you report a potential toxic exposure, it will be noted in your health record. Your primary care team will be made aware of your concerns and will connect you with resources to address your follow-up questions.
- You’ll receive additional information. After your screening, you will also receive information about benefits, registry exams, and clinical resources to address any concerns you may have.
- You can ask about the toxic exposure screening at your next VA health care appointment. If you do not have an upcoming appointment or want to be screened sooner, contact your local VA facility and ask to be screened by the Toxic Exposure Screening Navigator.
- You’ll be screened at least once every 5 years. Even if you don’t have concerns today, you may in the future. This helps keep your records up to date and ensures exposure concerns are part of your long-term care plan.
- You can decline. If you choose not to be screened, you will have the option to decline until the following year.
Additional information
There are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- It’s not diagnostic. The screening identifies and documents potential exposures. If there is a need, it will support you in connecting with your health care team. You can also always contact your local VA health care team through Secure Message or call 1-800-MyVA411 and press 8.
- It’s not part of the VA benefits claims process. For information about how to file a claim, visit https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/.
- Being screened is separate from joining a VA environmental health registry. VA has six registries: Agent Orange, Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits, Depleted Uranium, Gulf War, Ionizing Radiation, and Toxic Embedded Fragments. You’ll receive information about registry participation after your screening.
Be proactive
One of the best ways to manage your health is to proactively develop a long-term health care plan with your care team. The new toxic exposure screening can be an important part of that discussion.
For information about enrolling in VA health care, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction.
For more information about the screening and toxic exposures, check out these additional resources:
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I would like to be screened for this Toxic exposure screening.
My father Harvey James Oubre was exposed to agent orange disease and is positive on paper. I’m his eldest daughter kealey Derise and genetically I have had crippling scoliosis since 8th grade and I’m 46 not to mention many other serious health conditions that are causing me inability to work. I receive long term care home health through state of Louisiana and would like it if someone could call me with the proper steps I need to take.
I was in the 1st of the 39th. missile battalion, 3yrs. of active duty Feb. 1960 til Jan. 1963, on guard duty I could smell the fumes of “Red fuming Nitric acid” (the missile propellant) and was issued a Geiger Counter to check for Alpha, Beta and Gamma rays, I’m in reasonable health and will be 80yrs. old in Jan 2023, if there’s is a census taker this might help!
Franklin E. Whalen
[Editor: Do NOT publish your sensitive information on the internet. I have removed it from this comment.]
I was in the Persian Gulf right after the hostages were kidnapped. My ship was over there for three tours the whole time the hostages were in captivity. It was so bad that they had to put things over the vents on the ship to keep the sand from coming in the ship we had to breathe. All that sand.I now have COPD because it. I cannot get it service connected . Plus I have a rare blood disease and I and I think it was caused by the chemical weapons. Iran was using against Iraq at the time Iraq & Iran war was going to on, the chemical weapons Iran was shooting at Iraq had to blow down into the Persian Gulf towards our ships and never hear anybody talk about that.
Was over exposure to radiation at the Marshall Islands in 1977-78 a concern? The Army never released film badge information before I retired in 1994.
This is information is so very helpful .
My health care team is no existant.
What about us Veterans living overseas in Asia? How might we be screened when the VA is 8 hours away?
Are we eligible to see a private physician?
Many of us were exposed. For example, I was exposed to Camp Legune water, contracted hepatitis B and C, and have asthma and COPD, related, I believe, to asbestos.
What about Asbestos exposure? Is it toxic? It was used during the 1940’s through the 1990’s in Navy ships, Navy shipyards, military bases, and military aircraft in construction and insulation.
We were stationed on Finland Air Force Radar Station in Finland Minnesota for 3 years. It is now shut down because of toxic waste found on the grounds. Is this base considered one of the problem sites?
I would like to participate with this…. My unit was located near a burn pit during desert Storm …. I was already notified years ago , from the US military in Washington DC, that my unit was close to a chemical burning pit area…. I am already a military member enrolled in the VA medical system….. please let me know….. thank you!
Richard Currier
Several Korea buddies and I at Camp Carroll dug a huge pit and filled it with toxic chemicals! I was flown back to the States at Walter Reed Hospital cause I couldn’t walk, during this burial! We contaminated drinking wells on post. Camp Carroll was a supply post, so there were big burials before this one that caused problems for anyone drinking water on base. The whole story is on YouTube “toxic secrets “, check it out!!!
I am an offspring of a veteran that served in Vietnam & Okinawan era. He was one of the soldiers who was affected by Agent Orange & the burn pits. He had started receiving benefits for both this year. Unfortunately, he passed away August 31, 2022. I have health issues that I believe are directly related to the chemicals that affected my Father. I have been disabled for several years now due to several conditions I inherited from my Father. My question is this…will there be any compensation for the children of the soldiers who served their country unfailingly who are affected by those chemicals?
Is there a Registry for those of us that were in the Chemical Corps? Exposures went beyond Ft. McClellan…as NBC NCO, we were exposed constantly to NBC Rooms, equipment, chemical storage, and lots of other nastiness.
Dear VA Officials,
As a USMC service disabled veteran who went through 10 very painful and dangerous abdominal laser surgeries related to endometriosis, I feel that all military bases should routinely be checked for toxic substances including buried metals/munitions. For example, Camp Pendleton, CA was found to have numerous toxins, buried metals/munitions, and motor pool chemical solvents leaking into the local land and water. According to web-based research, these toxins extended to nearby Oceanside, CA.
Camp Pendleton, CA serves as the largest USMC training base on the West Coast. The results of the 2011 HHS ASTDR survey showed that contamination records at Camp Pendleton, CA were sometimes higher as compared to Camp LeJeune, NC toxin contamination data. I completed the HHS ASTDR survey on 10/11/2011 which was sent to both Camp Pendleton, CA and Camp LeJeune, NC Marines. Many questions on this survey focused on endometriosis and infertility related issues. For some reason, Camp Pendleton, CA Marines were excluded from the recent Camp LeJeune, NC exposure law. While Camp Pendleton, CA may not have had the dry cleaning solvents issue, this training base had many other contamination issues. Note: The VA Women’s Health Network found that endometriosis and infertility was the leading female disability among female veterans.
Routine land scans and clean-up remediation efforts for underground munitions, e.g., USMC rifle ranges and practice military training sites, etc. should be conducted on a regular preventative maintenance schedule. Otherwise, multiple toxins and rusted munition contaminants can seep into the local ground and water supply. For example, if not already completed, all motor pools should have an underground contamination bladders installed to capture dangerous toxins. Next, after annual USMC rifle range qualification exercises, every metal round should be picked up and extracted from the dirt. Routine exposures such as the cleaning solvent used to clean the M-16 rifle after annual qualification training should be checked. It is often the simple, routine toxins and cleaning solvents that veterans are exposed to that can later result in medical issues. Despite my disabilities, I am still committed and value the U.S. Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis!
I was at Camp Lejeune in 1951 t0July 1952. I have had cancer 3 times. Do I qualify for a claim?
Another Govt/VA ploy to screw over Veterans involved in the Camp Lejeune water “event”!…or, non-event as y’all probably look at it. A worthless survey to attempt to CYA.
I’m SURE this will be deleted because it’s not in accord with proper mindless obedience…
My V.a. husband was in VA medical program, had a Ocp w the Texas City Clinuc and was being treated by VA for severe breathing limiations, on a cpap and VA paid for his treatment.
He was expised to toxic fumes when he was an air craft mechanic, as a first responder on that tarmack constantly. He recently passed 11/10/2022 due to his lung incapabilities he was exposed in Korean War and had an 80% disability for other things being around the aircraft ,
hearing loss. He had never filed a disability claim having been seperated after 4 years during Korean War….his lung problems did not crop up til his 70’s thru his death at 91. He was refused
when claims were filed for his spouse applied for disability
because there was no gile that explained his breathing
dusability. He was uding a cpap machine those years as an air craft mechanic is subjected to lots of tixuc fumes on the flight
and mechanic on planes. I was, as his widow refused his survivor and DIC pay. Tgere was at that time mo ginding that the air craft tixic fumes dyring a war and no ear or breathing covers to avoid his disability. I his wife, janet
was not inckuded in his being allowed this toxic fume from his work in the Korean War, as it was never looked at as a toxic fume
issue.
How about exposure at Camp LuJune water?
We’ve come a long way with helping our many Military Family Members who have illnesses and/or died from exposure to toxic elements.
My father, husband, brother, nephew and brother-in-law all sustained some sort of contact to various lethally detrimental work projects.
Our Affiliated Partnership with US Department of Defense provides Genuine Health validated by National Institutes of Health studies to
avoid severity of etiological and biological repercussions @ Gold Star Genius our branded name from Bankable Bodies ™ USPTO now.
Thank God-We’ve come a LONG WAY baby now with taking care of Veteran exposures!
Our family’s many Military Members have had a hard time after illnesses caused from
their Service to our great Country. It has been a while seeing it rectified to avoid further
catastrophic illnesses and deaths for diseases that could be prevented. I’d started my
Wellness Brand based on finding the fastest effective items available proven to help in
mitigating issues.
I’m already registered in the VA medical but have a primary physician outside the VA will I be notified about screening. I am also registered with the Camp Lejeune water contamination. What should I be doing next. Thank you.
Thank you for establishing a pathway to the PACT Act. I finally see a way to confirm my Argent Orange exposure and receive some consideration for additional health issues. Skin cancer and blood anomaly that may eventually cause leukemia will need to be addressed. Recently released documents from the Vietnam War list my area of operation as the second most sprayed area with Dioxin in Vietnam in Kontum province.
Dennis Zembower
I have tried to address my bladder cancer issue with the VA on several occasions and was denied, several times I also landed in Viet Nam on a mail run with
Cdr. Vatedas. in 1966, and was aboard the aircraft carrier FDR- CVA 42. operating off the coast of Viet Nam in the Tonkin Gulf is a blue water operation This was also denied. So where do we go from here also I have hearing problem that gas developed.
Let us try again. The exam consists of three questions. First, have you been exposed to toxins. Second, if yes, what. Third, do you have any questions? Since there is no follow up, how will this benefit the veteran? If you are going to delete all comments you don’t like-Why even have a comment section in the first place?
you don’t really care that we were exposed you denying us for everything even the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. No one cares it’s another government cover-up. The VA covers it all up. They just don’t care, especially Providence Rhode Island. That’s why I’m getting a lawyer.
Sounds like after 50 years of turning us down for everything from Vietnam now they wanna make us a statistic are you OK we really care about you we’re not gonna do anything for you we’re gonna deny your claim all BS we burn sht and barrels from Agent Orange in Vietnam they didn’t care then they don’t care now
I don’t understand vets like you. You obviously loathe the V.A., and yet you’re going to “get a lawyer” because you think they owe you . . . something.
And stop saying “us.” You don’t speak for ME – that’s for sure!
Thank you for providing a vehicle to discuss something concerning a possible health hazard for over 50+ years.
My understanding is that the screening consists of three questions. #1 is basically have you been exposed to any toxic substances. #2 If so, what type. #3 Do you have any questions? Since there is no follow up, what benefit will this do the veteran?
It’s entered into a tracking database for monitoring every so many months on etiological progress.
If you are correct, it will do absolutely nothing for veterans, but will be very useful for the VA later in denying benefits for anything related to any exposure that wasn’t mentioned.
Given that the time estimate is only 5-10 minutes, it seems very likely that you are correct. A proper screening would provide a list of every known or suspected exposure by location and timeframe asking if you were there around that time and by every known or suspected job/mission that involved possible exposure asking if you did that or were around people who did. But doing it right would take a lot longer and would result in an increase in claims — which is exactly the opposite of what the VA wants.