205 - Overview of Military Enviromental Exposures and Some Important Topics to Stakeholders

Military Environmental Exposures (MEE) is a complex and challenging issue that affects about 43% of Veterans that think they had at least one possible exposure from a screening tool used in VHA after the historic 2022 passage of Eugene Robinson PACT Act. There are many dozens of possible MEE s; and by screening about 43% Veterans believe they had at least one exposure. MEE that are most famous include Burn Pits, Agent Orange, PFAS, fuels, possible chemical weapons and radiation exposures. Evaluation of such exposure concerns is a complex and evolving issue that can affect a Veterans eligibility for health care and other benefits. We will introduce the topic and elaborate on a few examples. This session is importantly one of four being submitted endorsed by the military and environment health sections. This first session will have three speakers and will cover:

- An overviw of MEE. 2. PFAS example case 3. Expert on depleted uranium.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how MEE is important and skills in evaluating can also be used in the civilian sector.
• Discuss how a brief occupational health assessment of such exposure concerns might be done?.
• Obtain and be able to contact the VA to get more information on this complex topic.