This bill would grant automatic care to veterans who believe burn pit exposures made them sick

[rangerrebew]

This bill would grant automatic care to veterans who believe burn pit exposures made them sick
Meghann Myers
 

The VA has to investigate every veteran’s claim that the myriad health issues they wish to get care for are connected to their service. But the problem is, many of those veterans’ deteriorating health can’t wait ― including millions exposed to toxic substances.

To speed up access to care, both houses of Congress are considering legislation granting “presumptive” status to toxic exposure claims, allowing applicants to start using VA services while they wait for adjudication.

“VA’s current model of ‘wait and see’ is not working,” Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., said Wednesday during a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing prompted by the TEAM Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., in October.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/12/10/this-bill-would-grant-automatic-care-to-veterans-who-believe-burn-pit-exposures-made-them-sick/

[PeteS in CA]

This should be a stupid question, but does the bill require the VA to verify that claimants actually served where burn pits were used? Sadly, in an era of stolen valor verification needs to be done.