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Burn Pits
Nine respiratory cancers added to list of illnesses presumed caused by burn pit smoke
The move follows promises by the administration to increase the number of burn pit illnesses eligible for benefits.
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Veterans
Senate leaders promise vote on expanding benefits for burn pit victims
The sweeping bill has been stalled in the Senate over concerns related to cost and potential workload burdens on Veterans Affairs workers.
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Burn Pits
What are military burn pits? And why are veterans worried about them?
The fires used in combat zones to dispose of waste may have caused serious illnesses in hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members.
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Burn Pits
Biden calls caring for burn pit illnesses a ‘sacred obligation’
In a speech to veterans in Texas, the president continued his push to improve benefits and care for those who served alongside burning waste pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Pentagon not doing enough to control open burning, report says
The Radford Army Ammunition Plant emits nearly three million pounds of pollutants each year
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Burn Pits
Burn pit injuries will be focus of Biden’s trip to Texas this week
The move follows comments from the president in his State of the Union address asking Congress to do more to help those veterans.
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Plan to give new benefits to burn pits victims passes House, faces difficult path ahead
The move comes just days after President Joe Biden urged Congress to provide more help for veterans suffering from the toxic smoke.
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Biden vows VA will do better on veterans’ burn pit illnesses
The president used his State of the Union address to promise more benefits and help for military toxic exposure victims.
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Burn pit benefits, veterans care to be major themes of Biden’s State of the Union speech
The president will also discuss financial help and mental health resources for veterans during his address to Congress.
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Sweeping burn pit benefits bill set for House vote next week
The measure could provide new veterans benefits to as many as one in every five living veterans.
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Paying the cost of war through bipartisan action, not words
The use of toxic chemicals in war zones and combat operations dates back more than a century ago.
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New burn pit bill promises immediate help for vets, but some call ‘BS’
The new Senate proposal is at odds with a more ambitious House plan to address toxic exposure injuries.
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Everyone wants to help military toxic exposure victims. Not all want to pay.
Lawmakers support the idea but face problems paying for the nearly $300 billion plan.
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New in 2022: When will all burn pit victims finally get veterans benefits?
Advocates saw progress on their efforts in 2021, but hope for even more in 2022.
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Supreme Court rejects appeal from veterans in burn pit lawsuit against KBR, Halliburton
The ruling means that private companies involved in burn pit operations will likely not face punishment for their role.
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As burn pit problems linger, advocates worry VA and DoD are moving too slow
Despite years of reports of rare illnesses from toxic exposure, advocates say the departments aren't doing enough.
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From the Archives
New burn pit report: Lung disease, high blood pressure common in exposed vets
Troops who worked at burn pits or were exposed to multiple dust storms in war zones have higher rates of respiratory illnesses and two rare, often fatal, lung diseases.
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From the Archives
DoD concedes rise in burn-pit ailments
The Pentagon has acknowledged that although Joint Base Balad’s burn pit closed last fall, “There is still lots of burn-pit exposure throughout theater.”
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From the Archives
Balad’s ill wind
Burn pits operate on U.S. bases throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, and troops have reported respiratory and heart problems, cancers and neurological diseases.
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From the Archives
Army doctors link soldier’s lung disease to Iraq burn pits
Since Military Times began reporting about burn pits, 400 troops have contacted Disabled American Veterans to say they have breathing problems or cancers.
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From the Archives
Burn pits have ailing troops seeing red
Army 1st Sgt. Lynette Streitfield was at Balad, the largest U.S. base in Iraq, for three weeks before she had her first-ever asthma attack.
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From the Archives
Troops: Burn-pit smoke caused health problems
More than 100 service members have written to Military Times saying they have health problems stemming from exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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