VA processing disability claims for certain conditions related to particulate matter

VA is now processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas – if these conditions manifested within 10 years of a qualifying period of military service.

This will expand benefits for Veterans who served in:

• Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, and Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War, from September 19, 2001, to the present, or
• The Southwest Asia theater of operations from August 2, 1990, to the present

If you have a pending claim for one or more of these conditions, you don’t need to do anything. We’ll send you a decision notice when we complete our review. 

For more information on the new presumptive conditions, visit our website at Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures - Public Health (va.gov). 

To apply for benefits, Veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call toll-free at 800-827-1000.

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BURN PIT REGISTRY

Afghanistan: How Veterans can reconcile service

“Our purpose for being there was to prevent further attacks on the homeland,” said Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón "CZ" Colón-López. “We wanted to make sure that we denied Al Qaeda, specifically, of sanctuary, training ground and places where they could plan terrorism attacks. If you look at the past 20 years, that is exactly what we did."

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Nearly every death from COVID-19 is preventable

Nearly every COVID-19 death in the Veteran community and U.S. as a whole is entirely preventable through getting a vaccine, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said July 31 at the DAV National Convention in Tampa.

With COVID-19 cases rising with the Delta variant, McDonough said 99% of those dying from COVID-19 right now are unvaccinated.

All Veterans, their spouses and their caregivers can visit VA and receive a free vaccine. 

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Operation BBQ Relief – hope and compassion, one hot meal at a time

Operation BBQ Relief is a non-profit providing meals following natural disasters and the COVID-19 response. They host BBQ Basics courses led by champion pitmasters and chefs and then connect participants with volunteer opportunities to help feed their communities.

Recently, they held a course for Veterans at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. Several Veterans have now joined Operation BBQ Relief as volunteers. 

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Borne the Battle Podcast

Marine Corps Veteran and Lakota Warrior Billy Mills is an Olympic gold medalist, Olympic Hall of Famer and World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Famer. Listen as Mills discusses his life, Olympic experience, service in the Marines and current work with Running Strong for American Indian Youth.

LISTEN

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Worx Tools Discount code sent to email. Use coupon for 10% off next purchase.

Microsoft – 10% off select products, Available for active military, Veterans, reservists and National Guard members

Zappos – 10% off purchase

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