Following Tester, Takano, Blumenthal Push, VA Moves to Cover K-2 Veterans Sickened by Uranium Radiation

VA answers lawmaker’s calls to use the PACT Act to ensure veterans stationed at Karshi Khanabad base in Uzbekistan exposed to radiation receive the benefits they earned

Following sustained oversight efforts from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has begun an expedited process to expand the presumptive conditions associated with service at the Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan receive the benefits they have earned. To do this, VA plans to publish a federal register notice with the intent of establishing service-connected presumptive benefits for veterans who served at K-2 in order to make it easier for K-2 veterans suffering from a litany of cancers, immunological disorders, and other health conditions to receive earned benefits.

VA’s move to expand toxic-exposed benefits for K-2 veterans follows Tester, Takano, and Blumenthal’s push on VA Secretary McDonough last month, where they called on the Secretary directly to use authorities granted to the Department by the PACT Act to ensure K-2 veterans exposed to radiation receive the benefits they have earned.

“Every veteran exposed to toxins during their military service deserves access to the benefits and health care they earned and were promised,” Chairman Tester said. “We fought alongside veterans to pass the PACT Act and ensure that was the case for generations of toxic-exposed veterans. I’m encouraged VA is now using this law to add new presumptive benefits for K-2 veterans exposed to toxic substances. And I’ll keep holding VA accountable to continue taking the necessary and immediate steps to do right by K-2 veterans.”

“Veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan are still not receiving the benefits they are entitled to,” Ranking Member Takano said. “That is why we called on VA for a revaluation of the contaminants veterans were exposed to during their time at K2. These veterans have waited decades for benefits that should have been granted a long time ago. I applaud VA’s announcement today and hope it means that we will see an expedited presumptive for contaminants exposure at K2 very soon.”

“K2 veterans deserve comprehensive care and benefits – without exception,” Senator Blumenthal said. “This action from the Department of Veterans Affairs marks important and commendable progress in doing right by them and ensuring they receive proper health care. I look forward to the continued action of the VA in honoring the service and sacrifice of all veterans, and especially those who served at Karshi Khanabad who suffer from exposure to toxins and poisons, by providing access to the treatment and care they have rightfully earned.”

Following the lawmakers’ call, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough directed VA to use an accelerated PACT Act presumptive process to recognize additional presumptions related to service at K2. The Secretary indicated it is his expectation that VA will complete it as quickly as possible. He also announced VA will begin the rulemaking process to make bladder cancer, urethra, and other genitourinary tract cancers presumptive conditions for veterans who served at K-2, and all veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

K-2 was a military base in Uzbekistan where some of the first servicemembers were deployed in the Global War on Terror, and was a former chemical weapons site contaminated with uranium. After hearing from K-2 veterans suffering from radiation-exposure illnesses and reporting confirming uranium was found at K-2, Tester, Takano, and Blumenthal pushed VA leadership in October to use authorities from the PACT Act to expand coverage for veterans exposed to radiation at K-2. The PACT Act provided VA resources and authorities it is now using to further expand the list of presumptive toxic exposure-related service-connected disabilities.

Tester, Takano, and Blumenthal’s efforts to ensure K-2 veterans suffering from radiation exposure-related conditions have received support from K-2 veterans and stakeholders.

“The Stronghold Freedom Foundation is grateful that the VA has acknowledged that more needs to be done when it comes to care for veterans who deployed and transited Camp Stronghold Freedom, Karshi-Khanabad (K2), Uzbekistan, and we look forward to continue working with the VA to ensure all gaps are closed so all veterans and their families are ensured the care and recognition they deserve,” said Matt Erpelding, Executive Director, Stronghold Freedom Foundation. “In October 2001, 23 years ago, the first boots were on the ground in response to the events of 9/11, the time for continued discussion is over and the time for impactful action is now.”

“Though much work remains, the VFW applauds the significant progress described by Secretary McDonough regarding K2 veterans,” said Nancy Springer, VFW Associate Director, National Legislative Service. “As some of our first deployers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, these service members arrived overseas ready to do battle with a deadly enemy. Undeterred by the toxic conditions in which they found themselves, they accomplished their mission but returned home to fight another battle against illness and disability caused by that service. We commend the Secretary’s actions to expand access to health care for K2 veterans to ease their burdens in obtaining just compensation, and to accelerate the process to determine additional presumption of service connections including any attributable to ionizing radiation.”

“Secretary McDonough’s announcement today that VA will be establishing presumptives for K2 veterans is a clear win for veterans who endured toxic exposures at the former Soviet base in Uzbekistan more than two decades ago,” said Randy Reese, DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director. “We were very encouraged that he said VA is not only working on establishing presumptives for K2 veterans who develop bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and Gulf War Illness, but also laid out his intention to establish a presumption of service connection for every condition associated with deployment to K2. This development confirms and expands on what the Secretary committed to Senator Jon Tester, Congressman Mark Takano and others in a letter last week and is another important step toward keeping our promise to K2 veterans exposed to toxic and radioactive substances. While today’s announcement by the Secretary is a major milestone towards providing justice to K2 veterans, DAV will continue to engage VA, leaders in Congress, and other veteran stakeholders to ensure that every veteran injured or made ill by exposure to deadly toxins and environmental hazards receives the health care and benefits they have already earned through their service.”

In addition to creating a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure, the PACT Act provides health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans; expanded VA’s list of health conditions presumed to be caused by toxic exposures which opens the door to additional benefits for veterans; and improved resources to support claims processing.