The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to caring for the needs of Veterans who have lung and other health conditions possibly related to their deployment to the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry will enable VA to better assess the health of Veterans exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards. The registry launch was postponed to allow adequate time to develop and test the software and hardware as well as to ensure data security and accessibility. Now that it is available, Veterans may participate and need not be enrolled in VA’s health care system to do so, because a registry is an epidemiological research tool and the receipt of a registry examination(s) and tests does not constitute the receipt of care.  VA encourages all Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, and the Gulf War to participate in the registry. Veterans should sign-up now for a Department of Defense Self-Service Logon (DS-Logon) in preparation for the launch of the registry.

This registry will enhance our understanding of any identified long-term adverse health effects of exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards during deployment – ultimately leading to better health care.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Online Self Assessment Questionnaire

War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

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ADDITIONAL NOTES:

The on-line self-assessment of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is not a means to receive compensation for disability and is not a means to obtain medical care for time-sensitive health issues. If Veterans are experiencing any urgent symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or chest pains, they are instructed go to the nearest emergency room, call 911, or contact a primary care provider.

Gulf War era Veterans are still eligible to register in the Gulf War Registry and should follow established procedure to do so if needed.