The Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating whether veterans’ exposure to PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam may increase their risk of kidney cancer, which could expedite their access to benefits.
Patricia Kime reports for Military.com.
In short:
- The VA is studying a potential connection between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer in veterans, aiming to make it a presumptive service-related condition.
- The research follows previous studies that linked PFAS with other cancers, but no conclusive connection with kidney cancer has been established yet.
- Veterans with kidney cancer are encouraged to file claims even as the study proceeds.
Key quote:
“At VA, we want to understand the health conditions that veterans are living with so we can provide them with all of the benefits they deserve.”
— Denis McDonough, VA Secretary.
Why this matters:
If PFAS exposure is linked to kidney cancer, it could significantly impact many veterans' health and ability to access benefits, especially those exposed to these chemicals during military service.
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