WERE YOU EXPOSED TO BURN PITS OR OTHER HAZARDS DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE?
The VA Disability system is confusing and time-consuming. It can be especially difficult to win benefits for a disability related to a hazardous exposures from your military service. Winning these cases requires an experienced advocate who knows the ins and outs of the VA system, and can obtain the right medical opinion that ties everything together. Rob Levine Law has assisted countless veterans in obtaining benefits due to burn pits and other exposures that had devastating impact on their health. Our firm takes on an array of diverse exposure cases, including but not limited to:
- Agent Orange
- Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water
- Burn Pits and Other Gulf War Exposures
- Contamination at Other Military Bases
BURN PITS
Many veterans were exposed to toxic hazards from burn pits in the Middle East. The U.S. military used large-scale open-air combustion, called burn pits, as a form of waste management for billions of tons of trash over the past two decades. Burn pits contained toxic materials such as chemicals, paint, metal/aluminum cans, munitions, plastic products, as well as medical and human waste. Veterans with exposure to burn pits now deal with debilitating medical conditions that can be presumptively service-connected.
The following groups of veterans are presumed to have been exposed to burn pits:
- On or after August 2, 1990, with service in any of these territories or airspace above these locations: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- On or after September 11, 2001, with service in any of these territories or airspace above these locations: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
With presumed exposure to burn pits, it is easier to service-connect these medical conditions:
- Respiratory Cancers such as: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx or trachea, adenocarcinoma of the trachea, salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea, adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung, large cell carcinoma of the lung, salivary gland-type tumors of the lung, sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung, and typical/atypical carcinoid of the lung.
- The following types of cancer: Head cancer, Neck cancer, Gastrointestinal cancer, Reproductive cancer, Lymphoma cancer, Lymphomatic cancer, Kidney cancer, Brain cancer, Melanoma, Pancreatic cancer, Glioblastoma.
- The following types of respiratory conditions: Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Chronic bronchitis, COPD, Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, Emphysema, Granulomatous disease, Interstitial lung disease, Pleuritis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Sarcoidosis.
Medical studies continue to show the negative impact of burn pits on veterans’ health. Unfortunately, it is still difficult for many veterans to establish benefits for their burn pit-related claims. Contact us today so we can fight for you!
GULF WAR EXPOSURES
During the Gulf War, many veterans were exposed to burn pits, sarin gas, depleted uranium, and burning oil wells. As a result, Gulf War veterans often suffer from medically unexplained illnesses, commonly known as “Gulf War Syndrome,” which may be tied to those exposures. Research continues to demonstrate that veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom experience the same debilitating illnesses.
Veterans with eligible service in Southwest Asia may receive presumptive service connection for the following conditions related to Gulf War Syndrome:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Infectious Diseases Such As: Malaria, Brucellosis, Coxiella Burnetii (Q Fever), Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Shigella, Campylobacter Jejuni, Non-typhoid Salmonella, West Nile Virus, and Visceral Leishmaniasis
Dealing with the effects of Gulf War exposures can be hard enough. Don’t add the stress and frustration of battling the VA alone. Contact our team for a free case evaluation, and we’ll work hard to get you the benefits you deserve!
Rob Levine Law Resources
An experienced personal injury attorney is a critical aspect of pursuing a claim against the person or party that caused your injury. Not only is an attorney familiar with the law, they can also help you navigate legal and practical challenges that frequently arise in any personal injury case.
A lawyer is also a great resource for addressing questions about what types of compensation you may be eligible to receive and explaining how to approach your personal injury claim altogether.
Personal injury cases have a statute of limitations, and most of them are between two and four years, depending upon the state in which you reside. As such, it’s of the utmost importance that you consult an attorney today to file your claim immediately.
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