Public Health

Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, referred to as the “Burn Pit Registry” or “the registry”, is a critical tool that is advancing research through combining Veteran and service member data. The registry enables VA to identify and research health challenges of Veterans and service members who were exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service. Over time, the knowledge gained through this research will be used to fuel advancements in treatments, more precise predictive medicine, inform decisions related to presumptive conditions, and deliver targeted proactive and preventative care. 

While participation in the registry does not impact an individual’s care or benefits, Veterans and service members who participate are helping to improve the care and benefits for generations of Veterans and service members to come. 

On August 1, 2024, the VA and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced critical updates to the registry including: the broadening of participation criteria; clear opt-out procedures; and automatic inclusion procedures based on DOD records that vastly expand the number of participating Veterans and service members. 

ABOUT THE BURN PIT REGISTRY

When and why was the Burn Pit Registry formed?

In 2014 at the direction of Congress, VA established the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry to fuel research to advance treatments, enable more precise predictive medicine, and ensure proactive care and benefits for Veterans and service members exposed to hazardous toxins while serving.

To learn more about VA’s efforts to combat airborne hazards and burn pit exposures, you can visit the Health Outcomes Military Exposures website at  Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures - Public Health (va.gov)  

Why did VA redesign the registry?

VA is always evaluating ways to improve programs, care, and benefits for Veterans. After seeking extensive feedback from Veterans and service members, it was clear that the burden of entry to participate in the program was too great. This redesign addressed these challenges by broadening participation criteria, simplifying opt-out processes, and automatically including eligible Veterans and service members based on DOD records. 

What do I need to do if I was enrolled prior to the redesign of the registry?
No action is required for Veterans and service members who were enrolled prior to the redesign and want to continue participating. Your enrollment has automatically carried over to the redesigned Registry.

If you no longer wish to participate and want to opt out, please complete this online form.

ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT

What are the participation criteria for the registry?

Veterans and service members (living or deceased) who, per DOD records, served in the military campaigns or theater of operations listed below from August 2, 1990, through August 31, 2021, will be automatically included:

• Operations and Campaigns: Desert Shield and Desert Storm (ODS/S); Iraqi Freedom (OIF); Enduring Freedom (OEF); and New Dawn (OND)
• Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, and waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea 
• The Southwest Asia theater of military operations and Egypt 
• Afghanistan, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, or Yemen after September 11, 2001
• Associated airspaces of the countries and bodies of water listed above. 

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Do I need to have been exposed to specific airborne hazards or have related health concerns to participate in the registry?

No -- you do not need to have been knowingly exposed to specific airborne hazards or have related health concerns to be in the registry. This is because our understanding of what counts as a toxic exposure continues to evolve. In fact, participation of Veterans and service members who have no known exposures at the time of enrollment in the registry may help us later identify new exposures through trends. 

How do I confirm whether I am enrolled in the Burn Pit Registry? 

If your military record includes deployment to an eligible theater of operation or location for specific time periods, you should already be enrolled in the registry. 

Veterans can check their status by contacting their local Environmental Health Coordinator. Active-duty service members can check their status at https://vethome.va.gov/inquiry.

What if I deployed to an eligible area, but my name is not listed in the Burn Pit Registry?

VA relies on DOD records to determine which Veterans and service members deployed to an eligible area or military campaign. We understand sometimes there are information gaps due to large data transfers or the classified nature of your duties. You may request a manual eligibility review by submitting a request here: https://vethome.va.gov/inquiry.

Form Instructions:

• Under “Topic”, select “Registry Eligibility” 
• Under “Additional Detail” provide a short paragraph stating your concern or questions and include dates of military service and deployment information related to eligibility criteria
• Complete all required form information

What do I need to do if I was enrolled prior to the redesign of the registry?

There is no action for Veterans and service members who were enrolled prior to the redesign and want to continue participating. Your inclusion has automatically carried over to the redesigned registry.

What if I want to opt out of the Burn Pit Registry?  

Participation in the registry is optional and has no impact on, nor will it determine eligibility for VA health care and benefits. Those who wish to opt out can complete this online form.

If I opt out now, can I choose to opt in later?

Veterans and service members who initially opted out of the registry can rejoin by submitting a request here: https://vethome.va.gov/inquiry.

Participation

Why should I participate in the registry?

Veteran and service members’ participation in the registry is critical, enabling VA to identify and research health challenges of Veterans and service members who were exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service. 

Over time, the knowledge gained through this research will be used to fuel advancements in treatments, more precise predictive medicine, and targeted proactive care. Veterans and service members from this generation who participate are helping improve the care and benefits for generations of Veterans and service members to come.

Even if you have not experienced any symptoms or illnesses that you believe are related to exposures during military service, your participation in the registry could help VA provide better care to all Veterans and service members. 

What is required for participation?
There are no additional requirements for participation in the registry. Veterans and service members can stay informed about ongoing research by visiting www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits.

Remember that participation is completely optional.

What specific data is DOD and VA sharing with the registry?

The deidentified data pulled from DOD for eligible Veterans and Service members, both living and deceased, includes deployment locations, military personnel information, and demographics to include gender, race, and ethnicity. No medical information will be stored in the registry. 

Who can access my data from the registry and how will it be used?

Veteran and service member data will be accessible to select VA epidemiologists and researchers, and institutional review board-approved researchers. It will be used to conduct medical research on the cohort over a period of time. The results will inform the policy decision-making efforts of VA senior leaders, including those related to presumptive conditions.

What if I still have questions? 

Please contact your local VAMC Environmental Health Coordinator. To locate a local coordinator, please review the listing of VAMC coordinators at https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp 

VA encourages all Veterans concerned about how their military service has impacted their health to talk to their health care provider, apply for VA health care, and file a claim for compensation and benefits.

Service members can also visit DOD’s Burn Pit Registry website for more information.  

You do not have to participate in the registry to receive compensation, benefits, or health care from VA.   

To learn more about other types of military exposures, visit the VA military exposures homepage.

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