Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.

Highlights:

• Expands VA medical care to military veterans who meet the following requirements, including (Title I, Sec. 101):

• Participated in toxic exposure risk activity as defined in the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record; or

• Served in specific locations on specified dates. 

• Defines “toxic exposure” as an exposure to a substance, chemical, or airborne hazard (Title I, Subtitle A, Sec. 101).

• Establishes the Formal Advisory Committee on Toxic Exposure, the Science Review Board, and the Working Group within the VA to assist with various procedures in establishing or removing presumptions of service-connection (Title II, Sec. 202).

• Amends and increases the presumption of service-connection for certain conditions or purposes for various groups of veterans (Title III, Sec. 302).

• Requires that the VA provide a veteran with a medical examination regarding the link between disability and toxic exposure risk activity if the veteran submits a disability compensation claim for service-connected disability with insufficient evidence  (Title III, Sec. 303).

• Requires that the VA incorporate a clinical questionnaire to help determine potential toxic exposures as part of the initial screening conducted for veterans with a VA primary care provider (Title VI, Sec. 603).

• Requires that the VA establish a registry for current or past members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances due to the environmental release of aqueous film-forming foam at a Department of Defense location (Title VII, Sec. 701).

• Requires the VA establish and maintain the Fort McClellan Health Registry (Title VII, Sec. 702).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.

Highlights:

• Expands VA medical care to military veterans who meet the following requirements, including (Title I, Sec. 101):

• Participated in toxic exposure risk activity as defined in the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record; or

• Served in specific locations on specified dates. 

• Defines “toxic exposure” as an exposure to a substance, chemical, or airborne hazard (Title I, Subtitle A, Sec. 101).

• Establishes the Formal Advisory Committee on Toxic Exposure, the Science Review Board, and the Working Group within the VA to assist with various procedures in establishing or removing presumptions of service-connection (Title II, Sec. 202).

• Amends and increases the presumption of service-connection for certain conditions or purposes for various groups of veterans (Title III, Sec. 302).

• Requires that the VA provide a veteran with a medical examination regarding the link between disability and toxic exposure risk activity if the veteran submits a disability compensation claim for service-connected disability with insufficient evidence  (Title III, Sec. 303).

• Requires that the VA incorporate a clinical questionnaire to help determine potential toxic exposures as part of the initial screening conducted for veterans with a VA primary care provider (Title VI, Sec. 603).

• Requires that the VA establish a registry for current or past members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances due to the environmental release of aqueous film-forming foam at a Department of Defense location (Title VII, Sec. 701).

• Requires the VA establish and maintain the Fort McClellan Health Registry (Title VII, Sec. 702).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text