VETERANS PRESS: Important: VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry changes

Important: VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Changes on Aug. 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) after seeking extensive feedback from veterans and service members.  

The registry is an important research tool that enables VA to identify and study health challenges spanning the veteran and service member population as a whole, providing veterans and service members of this generation an opportunity to help improve the care and benefits of veterans and service members in generations to come. Ultimately, the registry is a database that combines veteran and service member data to help VA better understand, research, and ultimately improve treatment and benefit options for the health challenges experienced by veterans and service members exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service. Important updates to the registry include: The automatic inclusion of veterans and service members who meet criteria based on DoD records. To learn more, visit https:// www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/ registry.asp.

The removal of a cumbersome 144-question registry questionnaire.  

Establishment of an easy registry opt-out process.  

It is important for veterans to know that participation in the registry is optional and has no impact on, nor will it determine eligibility for, VA health care and benefits.  

Veterans can check their status by contacting their environmental health coordinator at https:// www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/ coordinators.asp.

For local information and help, see the North Idaho Resource Directory in this publication.