08.02.22

Hoeven Helps Pass Legislation to Provide Health Care Benefits for Veterans Suffering from Toxic Exposure

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to provide Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care to more than 3.5 million veterans from all eras suffering from conditions related to toxic exposure. 

“This legislation fulfills our promise to veterans who fought for and defended our nation, often at great personal cost to themselves,” said Hoeven. “This bill ensures veterans suffering from conditions due to toxic exposure from their time of service receive the health care and benefits they have earned, an important investment in their health and well-being.” 

Among other priorities, the legislation:

  • Adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions.
  • Streamlines the VA’s review process and creates a framework for establishing future service-connected presumptions related to toxic exposure.
  • Expands Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll.
  • Requires VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications.

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