Service Connection Expanded to Additional Cancers

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is "lowering the burden of proof" for thousands, making acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers presumptive for service connection.

The Jan. 8 decision included Gulf War veterans, those who served in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War on or after Aug. 2, 1990; and post-9/11 veterans, those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan and the airspace above these locations during the Gulf War on or after Sept. 11, 2001. It also includes veterans who served at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

Veterans no longer must prove their service caused their condition to receive benefits. This landmark decision allows them access to free health care for that condition.

According to the VA, these steps are also part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that K2 veterans—and their survivors—receive the care and benefits they deserve. K2 veterans have higher claim and approval rates than any other cohort of veterans: 13,002 are enrolled in VA health care, and the average K2 veteran is service connected for 14.6 conditions.

The 2022 PACT Act was the largest expansion of veteran benefits in generations. The VA then made millions of veterans eligible for health care and benefits years earlier than called for by the law. It also launched the largest outreach campaign in the history of the VA to encourage veterans to apply. 

Nearly 890,000 veterans have signed up for VA health care since the bill was signed into law, a nearly 40% increase over the previous equivalent period, and veterans have submitted > 4.8 million applications for VA benefits (a 42% increase over the previous equivalent period and an all-time record). The VA has delivered > $600 billion in earned benefits directly to veterans, their families, and survivors during that time.

The VA encourages all eligible veterans—including those with previously denied claims—to apply for benefits. To apply for benefits, veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call 1-800-MYVA411. 

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is "lowering the burden of proof" for thousands, making acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers presumptive for service connection.

The Jan. 8 decision included Gulf War veterans, those who served in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War on or after Aug. 2, 1990; and post-9/11 veterans, those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan and the airspace above these locations during the Gulf War on or after Sept. 11, 2001. It also includes veterans who served at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

Veterans no longer must prove their service caused their condition to receive benefits. This landmark decision allows them access to free health care for that condition.

According to the VA, these steps are also part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that K2 veterans—and their survivors—receive the care and benefits they deserve. K2 veterans have higher claim and approval rates than any other cohort of veterans: 13,002 are enrolled in VA health care, and the average K2 veteran is service connected for 14.6 conditions.

The 2022 PACT Act was the largest expansion of veteran benefits in generations. The VA then made millions of veterans eligible for health care and benefits years earlier than called for by the law. It also launched the largest outreach campaign in the history of the VA to encourage veterans to apply. 

Nearly 890,000 veterans have signed up for VA health care since the bill was signed into law, a nearly 40% increase over the previous equivalent period, and veterans have submitted > 4.8 million applications for VA benefits (a 42% increase over the previous equivalent period and an all-time record). The VA has delivered > $600 billion in earned benefits directly to veterans, their families, and survivors during that time.

The VA encourages all eligible veterans—including those with previously denied claims—to apply for benefits. To apply for benefits, veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call 1-800-MYVA411. 

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is "lowering the burden of proof" for thousands, making acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers presumptive for service connection.

The Jan. 8 decision included Gulf War veterans, those who served in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War on or after Aug. 2, 1990; and post-9/11 veterans, those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan and the airspace above these locations during the Gulf War on or after Sept. 11, 2001. It also includes veterans who served at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

Veterans no longer must prove their service caused their condition to receive benefits. This landmark decision allows them access to free health care for that condition.

According to the VA, these steps are also part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that K2 veterans—and their survivors—receive the care and benefits they deserve. K2 veterans have higher claim and approval rates than any other cohort of veterans: 13,002 are enrolled in VA health care, and the average K2 veteran is service connected for 14.6 conditions.

The 2022 PACT Act was the largest expansion of veteran benefits in generations. The VA then made millions of veterans eligible for health care and benefits years earlier than called for by the law. It also launched the largest outreach campaign in the history of the VA to encourage veterans to apply. 

Nearly 890,000 veterans have signed up for VA health care since the bill was signed into law, a nearly 40% increase over the previous equivalent period, and veterans have submitted > 4.8 million applications for VA benefits (a 42% increase over the previous equivalent period and an all-time record). The VA has delivered > $600 billion in earned benefits directly to veterans, their families, and survivors during that time.

The VA encourages all eligible veterans—including those with previously denied claims—to apply for benefits. To apply for benefits, veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call 1-800-MYVA411.