WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a major expansion of presumptive conditions, benefiting Gulf War and Post-9/11 Veterans with specific health disorders linked to their military service. Effective this month, the newly added conditions include acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder cancer, ureter cancer, and related genitourinary cancers.
This policy change significantly lowers the burden of proof for affected Veterans, enabling those who served in designated areas to receive swift access to benefits and healthcare without needing to demonstrate a direct connection between their service and these conditions. Veterans diagnosed with these illnesses will be automatically eligible for benefits and free medical care for related health issues.
The updated presumptive benefits cover Gulf War Veterans who served in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations, including Iraq and Kuwait, on or after August 2, 1990. Post-9/11 Veterans are also included, specifically those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and various other countries within the Gulf War region on or after September 11, 2001. This expansion notably includes Veterans who served at Uzbekistan’s Karshi-Khanabad base.
The addition of these presumptive conditions represents the latest step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s wide-ranging initiatives to enhance benefits for Veterans. Central to these efforts is the PACT Act, signed in 2022, which marked the most significant expansion of Veteran benefits in decades. The act extended eligibility for services to millions of Veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. Since the legislation’s introduction, VA has undertaken an unprecedented outreach campaign, leading to a surge in benefit applications and healthcare enrollments.
To date, nearly 890,000 Veterans have signed up for VA care, reflecting a 40% increase compared to previous periods. More than 4.8 million benefit claims have been submitted, breaking all-time records. Since 2021, over $600 billion in benefits have been distributed, and more than 1.3 million Veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare.
The VA’s focused efforts on service members from the Karshi-Khanabad base have also yielded notable results. Of the approximately 16,000 K2 Veterans identified, more than 13,000 are enrolled in VA healthcare, and nearly 12,000 have received service connection for at least one condition, averaging a 70% disability rating. These Veterans receive an average of $30,000 annually in benefits.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of the expansion, stating, “Adding these presumptives lowers the burden of proof for Veterans to get the benefits they deserve for the conditions that followed them home from war.” He encouraged all eligible Veterans to apply for benefits immediately.
The VA’s latest decision demonstrates a continued commitment to providing compassionate support and addressing the unique health challenges Veterans face. With the Biden-Harris Administration in its final phase, these measures reflect an enduring promise to honor the service and sacrifice of those who wore the uniform.
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