Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry

A: The registry is a database of health information voluntarily provided by service members and veterans that will help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) collect, analyze, and report on health conditions that may be related to environmental exposures experienced during deployment. The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry consists of an online questionnaire and an optional, in-person medical evaluation.

In June 2014, Public Law 112-260, as described in the Federal Register Notice, mandated VA create an Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. The requirement was established in response to concerns that veterans were experiencing a range of respiratory illnesses possibly associated with exposure to burn pits while serving overseas. The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry allows eligible veterans and service members to document environmental exposures, such as smoke from burn pits, oil-well fires, or pollution during deployment, as well as record health concerns, through an online questionnaire. Information reported by participants is maintained in a secure database and may be used to inform future research studies.

The registry is completely voluntary and does not affect access to VA health care or compensation benefits. Upon completion of the questionnaire, registry participants may schedule a free medical exam to review their responses and health concerns with a medical provider. The registry helps participants become more aware of their health, while helping researchers to study the health effects of burn pits and other airborne hazards.

A: Airborne hazards can be any number of airborne environmental contaminants that may cause short- and long-term health effects to exposed individuals. Examples of airborne hazards include burn pit smoke, oil well fire smoke, sand, dust, and particulate matter, among others.

A: The use of open burn pits, or open-air burn pits, was a common waste disposal practice at military sites outside of the U.S. such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. Burn pits may include airborne hazards, like smoke and other emissions containing an unknown mixture of substances, which could have short- and long-term health effects.

A: The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry consists of an online questionnaire and an optional, in-person medical evaluation. You must have a Premium DS Logon (Defense Self-service Logon) Level 2 account to sign in to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Once you log in, you will need to verify your deployment information is correct before you proceed to the questionnaire. Upon completion, click “Submit,” then save and print the questionnaire for your records. If interested, service members may contact their local military hospital or clinic for a free, in-person medical exam to discuss exposures and health concerns with a doctor.

A: A DS Logon is a secure ID that is used by DoD and VA to allow individuals access to several websites with one user name and password. Service members must have a Premium DS Logon Level 2 account before attempting to complete the registry. You can obtain, update, or recover a DS Logon at the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Identity Management website. Once you have your DS Logon information, log in and complete the registry questionnaire. If you have trouble with DS Logon or have questions regarding the process for obtaining a DS Logon, visit the DMDC Identity Management FAQ page.

To receive account assistance, you can also call the DMDC Support Center at 1-800-477-8227, option 2, and then select option 2 again. For technical support, call the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Help Desk from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time at 1-877-470-5947.

A: If eligible, you can document exposures and learn more about potential health concerns, receive information about registry updates and ongoing health studies, contribute to valuable VA and DoD research, and create a “snapshot” of your health to guide discussions with your health care provider.

A: Yes. The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry was developed by VA for both service members and veterans. While the registry is owned and managed by VA, DoD works closely with VA to support service member participation and efforts in ongoing exposure research and policy.

A: The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is open to service members and veterans who deployed to contingency operations in the Southwest Asia theater of operations at any time on or after August 2, 1990 (as defined in 38 CFR 3.317(e)(2)) or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after September 11, 2001. These regions include the following countries, bodies of water, and the airspace above these locations: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates; and waters of the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea. When you log in to the registry using your DS Logon account, VA will use deployment data provided by DoD to verify your eligibility.

A: You must initiate a manual review of deployment information by selecting "Request an Eligibility Review". The registry will ask you to enter your contact information and eligible deployment information. VA will review the information you submit and, if necessary, ask you to provide documentation that indicates your eligible deployment(s). Please note that it may take up to 90 days for your deployment information to be verified. Upon verification, you may continue to the questionnaire.

The DoD’s deployment database is the record source used to determine eligibility. It may be missing or inaccurately representing your deployment history, resulting in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry indicating you are not eligible. VA and DoD are working together to resolve this issue to help ensure all eligible service members and veterans can register without requesting an eligibility review. We apologize for any inconvenience.

A: When adding a deployment, choose the country and select the entry with a blank base name. Later in the questionnaire you can enter the base name. Please note the list of bases available to select from the drop-down menu in the questionnaire is not a comprehensive list. If you served during Desert Shield or Desert Storm, in Kuwait, or in Djibouti, your base name will likely not be available on the drop-down list. In the event you cannot find the name of the base which you served on, check the spelling and/or type in the missing base name.

A:  It takes up to 90 days after your return for your deployment information to be linked from DoD records to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Therefore, the system may not recognize your eligibility if you are still deployed. We recommend waiting to register until at least 90 days following your return from deployment; this reduces the likelihood that you will need to request a manual eligibility review. It also enables to you to complete the questionnaire based on your full deployment experience.

A: The online questionnaire will take approximately 40 minutes to complete. You can fill out the questionnaire in steps by saving your information and returning later to complete it.

A: You will be asked a series of questions in the following categories:

• Deployment timeframes and bases to which you were stationed
• Conditions and health issues that cause difficulty with daily activities
• Current and past health symptoms
• Residential history, or where you’ve lived
• Occupational history, or what type of work you do
• Dust, gas, vapors, or fumes exposures
• Home environment and hobbies
• Health care utilization
• Contact preferences

A: It is important for medical providers to have a complete picture of your health. The questionnaire asks a broad range of questions because an individual’s health is greatly influenced by their lifestyle. Health conditions can worsen over time from additional or prolonged exposures experienced during work or recreation. Your current or past jobs, hobbies, civilian exposures, and lifestyle will not affect eligibility for benefits.

A: Your personal information will be secure and VA will review it for authorized purposes only. Unidentifiable information will be available to other government agencies, including DoD, as well as research institutions and the general public. You are responsible for protecting your personal information that you print out or download.

A: Until the questionnaire is available via the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, please print your completed questionnaire and to bring it to your in-person medical exam to avoid electronic access issues for the provider.  Additionally, please bring a copy of your completed questionnaire to your next routine health assessment, such as a Periodic Health Assessment, Post-Deployment Health Assessment, etc. Bringing your completed questionnaire helps your provider obtain a comprehensive picture of your health and potential health concerns.

A: Yes, everyone who registers for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry can download and/or print a copy of their completed questionnaire upon submission. You can also log back in to the registry to access it anytime.

A: DoD will provide a free, optional medical exam upon request. As a service member, you are responsible for scheduling an exam with your local military hospital or clinic.

Completing the registry does NOT cue DoD or VA to contact you to schedule an appointment.

Active duty service members, including activated Reserve and Guard, must contact their local military hospital or clinic to schedule an appointment for a voluntary medical evaluation. When you call, please state that you are requesting an appointment specifically to address health concerns related to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.

Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and Reserve members, whether discharged or still serving, are eligible for a no-cost medical evaluation provided by VA upon request. Veterans or inactive/separated National Guard members or Reservists enrolled in the VA health care system may contact their local VA Environmental Health Coordinator to schedule a no-cost medical evaluation.

A: Your doctor will discuss your concerns about airborne hazards exposures and review your printed questionnaire results. They will also evaluate any symptoms you may have in a comprehensive manner. Further suggested testing, including specialty evaluations, will be based on your health concerns and symptoms, and may be ordered by your doctor. It is important for you to print and bring your completed questionnaire to the exam to review exposure history and health concerns with your doctor.

A: If you are eligible, we strongly encourage you to complete the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry questionnaire to document your exposures in advance of a discussion with your provider. If you have any health or exposure concerns, you may contact your local military hospital or clinic to schedule an appointment for a voluntary medical evaluation. If you are experiencing any urgent symptoms, you should go to the nearest emergency room, call 911, or contact your primary care manager for instructions.