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Exposure to hazardous materials during military service can have life-altering effects long after discharge. Cancer can develop years (even decades) after exposure to toxins in and around military bases and combat zones.
The VA acknowledges a high risk of exposure to certain carcinogens and provides disability benefits to veterans whose cancers can be linked to military service. What hazardous materials are encountered during military service? What types of cancers are linked to these toxins? And how do veterans get disability ratings for cancer?
Hazardous Materials Linked to Cancer
Military service comes with a greater risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals than most civilian jobs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated more than 130 U.S. military sites and installations as Superfund sites, highlighting areas where contamination is severe enough to warrant national attention and cleanup efforts.
The following hazardous materials are associated with an increased risk of cancer among veterans:
1. Agent Orange (Dioxin)
Agent Orange, a herbicide used to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War, is perhaps one of the most well-known cancer-causing substances in military history. It contains dioxin, a potent carcinogen that has been linked to various types of cancers, including:
- Soft tissue sarcomas
- Respiratory cancers
- Prostate cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- Bladder cancer
The VA has recognized a presumptive service connection for veterans who served in areas where Agent Orange was used or tested, including those who served in Vietnam, Thailand, and certain parts of Korea. Other cancers, including pancreatic cancer, may also be linked to Agent Orange for the purposes of VA benefits.
2. Asbestos
Asbestos is a fibrous material used extensively in military construction and shipbuilding before its cancer-causing properties were well understood. Veterans who worked with or around asbestos may develop cancers such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other respiratory diseases. Asbestos exposure is also linked to pleural plaques and asbestosis.
3. Ionizing Radiation
Veterans who were involved in nuclear weapons testing and cleanup efforts or were assigned to certain Department of Energy (DOE) locations may have been exposed to ionizing radiation. This exposure has been linked to various types of cancer, including:
- Multiple myeloma
- Cancers of the bladder, kidney, thyroid, stomach, colon, salivary glands, small intestine, throat (pharynx), lung, breast, bone, esophagus, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, ovaries, and brain.
- Leukemia
- Lymphomas
These cancers are included on the VA’s presumptive radiation exposure list, which provides a clear path for veterans to receive disability compensation if they meet the criteria.
4. Burn Pit Smoke / Particulate Matter
The widespread use of open-air burn pits for waste disposal in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Gulf War areas exposed thousands of veterans to harmful smoke and particulate matter. The contaminants in burn pit smoke include chemicals, metals, and other toxic substances that may increase the risk of developing various cancers.
Some cancers linked to burn pit exposure include:
- Tracheal cancer
- Salivary gland carcinoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Melanoma
- Lymphatic cancer
- Lung sarcomatoid carcinoma
- Lung cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Glioblastoma
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Brain cancer
- Reproductive cancers
- Kidney cancers
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act has added numerous cancers to the burn pit exposure presumptive list for veterans who meet service criteria.
5. Lewisite / Mustard Gas
Lewisite and mustard gas are chemical weapons used in warfare. Veterans exposed to these toxic agents during military service are at risk for developing cancers such as:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer)
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
The VA recognizes the need for compensation for veterans who were exposed to lewisite or mustard gas during training exercises or military operations.
Veterans can also get a VA cancer rating if they volunteered for research involving chemical and biological testing between 1942 and 1975 and developed cancer due to participation in this testing.
6. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are chemicals found in many industrial settings and have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Veterans who served in certain environments, such as chemical laboratories, motor pools, or other areas with heavy use of solvents and cleaning chemicals, may have been exposed to VOCs.
One of the most serious environmental contamination events in U.S. military history was the contamination of drinking and bathing water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Between the 1950s and 1980s, Camp Lejeune water was contaminated with VOCs, including perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene.
Veterans stationed at or around Camp Lejeune during this time have an increased risk of developing various cancers, including:
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Adult leukemia
The VA recognizes these cancers as presumptively connected to service at Camp Lejeune. However, other cancers may qualify for benefits. For example, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has linked esophageal cancer to VOC exposure.
Filing a VA Disability Claim for Cancer
For veterans diagnosed with cancer, exposure to hazardous materials must be considered a potential cause. The process for obtaining these benefits can differ depending on whether the cancer is on the VA’s presumptive list.
Presumptive Service Connection
If a veteran’s cancer is on the VA’s presumptive list, such as the list for Agent Orange exposure or radiation exposure, they may be able to file a disability claim with minimal evidence. Veterans only need to prove that they served in a location where the toxic substance was used or tested and that they have been diagnosed with one of the cancers associated with that exposure. The VA will typically grant service connection without requiring additional evidence of a direct link between the exposure and the cancer.
Non-Presumptive Service Connection
If a veteran’s cancer is not on the VA’s presumptive list, they can still file a claim for disability benefits. However, the veteran will need to provide evidence showing that the cancer was caused by in-service exposure to hazardous materials.
The process of proving a service connection for cancer that is not presumptively linked to military service can be more complicated. Veterans must establish:
- An in-service event that led to hazardous material exposure
- A current diagnosis of cancer
- A medical link (nexus) between the two
Winning these claims typically requires a medical nexus letter from a healthcare professional, which establishes that it is “more likely than not” that the veteran’s exposure to a specific toxic substance caused their cancer.
To learn more about non-presumptive service connection claims, including tips and strategies for increasing your VA cancer rating, read our free eBook, VA Disability Claims: An Essential Guide for U.S. Veterans.
Seeking Help for Your VA Cancer Rating
Navigating the process of filing for VA disability benefits, especially in cases of cancer, can be complex. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and believes it is linked to military service, an experienced VA disability lawyer can help you through the claims process.
Your VA disability lawyer can assist with gathering medical evidence, obtaining nexus letters, and ensuring that all necessary documentation is submitted. They can also help you appeal a denied VA cancer disability claim.
If you are a veteran diagnosed with cancer and need assistance securing your VA disability rating, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced VA disability lawyer for guidance.