WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced proposed regulatory changes that would add several new cancers to the list of illnesses presumed to be connected to the military service of veterans exposed to radiation.
Under the proposed rules, veterans diagnosed with cancer of the bone, brain, colon, lung, or ovary would be able to apply for and receive compensation for these illnesses. Survivors of veterans who died from these diseases would also be eligible for benefits.
Veterans who participated in “radiation-risk activities” while on active duty, during active service for training or for inactive duty training as a member of a reserve component are eligible. Those activities include the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, internment as a POW in Japan, or onsite involvement in atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.
The proposed changes would also expand the definition of “radiation-risk activity” to include exposure to radiation related to underground nuclear tests at Amchitka Island, Alaska, before January 1, 1974, and service at gaseous diffusion plants in Paducah, Ky.; Portsmouth, Ohio; and Oak Ridge, Tenn. (area K25).
Veterans are currently presumed to have service-connected illnesses if they participated in a radiation-risk activity and later developed one of the following diseases: leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia); cancer of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gall bladder, bile ducts, salivary gland, or urinary tract; multiple myeloma, lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease), primary cancer of the liver (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated), or bronchiolo-aveolar carcinoma.
Veterans and other interested parties have 60 days to submit comments to: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Room 1154, Washington, D.C.20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. The proposed regulations are located in the Federal Register at www.access.gpo.gov.
