The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced in September that it will conduct a scientific assessment to determine if there is a relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure during military service and kidney cancer among veterans.
This scientific assessment, which was codified under the PACT Act, will help the VA determine if kidney cancer should be considered a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans who may have been exposed to PFAS. When a condition is considered presumptive, eligible veterans do not need to prove that their service caused their disease to receive benefits for it; instead, if they served in certain locations during certain time periods, VA automatically assumes (or “presumes”) that exposure during military service caused the disease and provides benefits accordingly.
PFAS are a class of more than 12,000 chemicals and have been used in the military since the early 1970s. VA’s assessment methodology follows guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and other key stakeholders, and will consider available peer-reviewed scientific literature, veterans’ claims data, and other relevant data. Regardless of whether a condition is an established presumptive condition, VA will consider claims on a case-by-case basis and can grant disability compensation benefits if sufficient evidence of service connection is found.
Since the PACT Act was signed into law, VA has extended presumptions for more than 300 new conditions, including for male breast cancer, urethral cancer, and cancer of the paraurethral glands.
“At VA, we want to understand the health conditions that veterans are living with so we can provide them with all of the benefits they deserve — and that’s what this review process is all about,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement about the assessment.1 “As a result of this scientific review, we may be able to make kidney cancer a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to PFAS, thus lowering the burden of proof on these veterans. But make no mistake: veterans should not wait for the outcome of this review to apply for the benefits and care they deserve. If you’re a veteran and believe your military service has negatively impacted your health, we encourage you to apply for VA care and benefits today.”
VA is soliciting public comment on the proposed scientific assessment between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer via the Federal Register. The public will have a 30-day period to provide comments. VA will also host a listening session on November 19, 2024, to allow individuals to share research and input. Individuals interested may register at https://www.research.net/r/ to participate. The public may also comment via either forum on other conditions that would benefit from review for potential service connection.
Reference
- Veterans Affairs. VA to review possible service connection between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer. Press release. Published September 23, 2024. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-to-review-possible-service-connection-between-pfas-exposure-and-kidney-cancer/