White House Unveils New Effort to Address US Troops' Exposure to Toxic Substances
Biden's White House commemorated Veterans Day in the US by announcing that the government intends to enhance its
support of American troops exposed to contaminants and environmental hazards during their service.
Per the Thursday memo, service members exposed to burn pits and other hazardous environments may be
eligible for a series of disability claims, including
asthma,
rhinitis and
sinusitis.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been processing such claims since August. Additionally, a new presumptive model has been adopted, allowing the VA to compile a
database of veterans who may have been exposed to harmful substances while on duty.
The Biden administration is also seeking to lessen the number of
suicides among US veterans, who make up 7.9% of the country's population, but account for approximately 13.5% of suicides in the nation.
