Military burn pits were widely used in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other deployment locations to dispose of waste, including chemicals, medical waste, and other hazardous materials. However, the toxic smoke from these burn pits has been linked to severe health conditions. If you or a loved one is a veteran suffering from health issues due to burn pit exposure, you may be eligible to file a military burn pit lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.
Military Burn Pit Dangers
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, “While on active duty, military service members may have been exposed to a variety of airborne hazards including:
- The smoke and fumes from open burn pits
- Sand, dust, and particulate matter
- General air pollution common in certain countries
- Fuel, aircraft exhaust, and other mechanical fumes
- Smoke from oil well fires”
Additionally, the American Cancer Society reports that “burn pits are large areas where tons of waste products (including trash, plastics, wood, metal, paints, solvents, munitions, and medical and human waste) are burned in the open air. Typically, JP-8 jet fuel, which contains benzene, has been used as an accelerant.”
Sadly, many veterans have reported debilitating health problems after being exposed to the toxic fumes emitted by burn pits. Despite mounting evidence of these dangers, military burn pit lawsuits now allege that many veterans were not provided with adequate protective equipment or warnings about the risks.
Potential Military Burn Pit Health Concerns
The VA has a staggering list of presumptive conditions for airborne hazards and burn pit exposures. Conditions include:
- Acute and chronic leukemias
- Adenocarcinoma of the trachea
- Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
- Asthma diagnosed after service
- Brain cancer
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Gastrointestinal cancer (any type)
- Glioblastoma
- Granulomatous disease
- Head cancer (any type)
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Kidney cancer
- Large cell carcinoma of the lung
- Lymphatic cancer (any type)
- Lymphoma (any type)
- Melanoma
- Multiple myelomas
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myelofibrosis
- Neck cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Reproductive cancer (any type)
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer (any type)
- Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
- Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
- Sarcoidosis
- Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
- Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung
- Urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reproductive cancer, or other illnesses linked to burn pit exposure, our legal team may be able to help.
How Phillips Law Group Can Assist You
Our firm is dedicated to holding responsible parties accountable and fighting for the compensation you deserve after you’ve been harmed by toxic military burn pit exposure. Through a military burn pit case, you may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Although the VA has recognized the aforementioned conditions as presumptively linked to burn pit exposure, making it easier for veterans to access benefits, filing a lawsuit may provide additional compensation and accountability beyond what the VA offers.
The experienced attorneys at Phillips Law Group understand the complexities of these cases and are committed to advocating for veterans and their families. You don’t need to seek justice alone.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and learn more about your legal options. We are here to support you in seeking justice and securing the resources you need to move forward. Call 602-222-2222 to find out more now.
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