It’s no secret that serving in the United States military comes with inherent dangers. But what most civilians don’t realize is that many of these dangers are not necessarily combat-related. 

Veterans and military contractors, on the other hand, are all too familiar with the variety of collateral risks that can arise in the course of their duties.

One such risk is exposure to toxic airborne hazards in connection with burn pits. Often, exposure to these hazards can result in severe and long-lasting health issues.

If you’ve sustained injury or illness after exposure to a military burn pit, you might be wondering what you can do to recover. Depending on your particular circumstances, you may be entitled to monetary compensation and other benefits as a result of your injuries.

You may have heard the terms “Iraq burn pit compensation” and “Afghanistan burn pit compensation.” But how exactly do you go about getting the compensation you need? And how much might you be able to recover?

Our team of defense base act litigators can help you answer these questions and more. At Grossman Attorneys at Law, we pride ourselves on helping Veterans and military contractors in their most difficult times. 

Ready to learn more about your potential open burn pit compensation claim? Give us a call today to discuss your case and see how we can help.

Burn Pits: An Overview

Before determining how much compensation you may be entitled to recover, it’s important to understand what a burn pit is and how exposure to burn pits can impact your health. 

Below is some crucial information about burn pits that everyone should know. 

What Is a Burn Pit?

A burn pit is an area of land used for the open-air combustion of trash and other solid waste products. 

The United States military frequently used burn pits in Southwest Asia and the Middle East to dispose of materials such as: 

  • Paint, 
  • Chemicals, 
  • Medical waste,
  • Human waste, 
  • Ammunition, 
  • Plastics, 
  • Rubber, 
  • Wood, 
  • Food waste, 
  • Metals, 
  • Petroleum, and 
  • Lubricant products. 

While these burn pits were an effective method of eliminating waste, they also emitted significant amounts of toxic fumes into the air. 

As a result, some U.S. veterans suffered medical conditions and illnesses related to burn pit exposure once they returned home.

If you were stationed near a burn pit while serving in the military and later developed medical issues, contact our team today to discuss the possibility of filing a claim for burn pit compensation. 

Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Statistics

In 2014, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. This was done in response to increased concerns regarding the respiratory health of veterans after exposure to burn pits.

The registry is open to both veterans and active-duty service members and allows them to voluntarily provide information about their health and exposure to certain airborne hazards. 

According to a report published by VA, there were 191,044 veterans who participated in the registry as of December 31, 2019. Of these individuals, 178,604 reported exposure to a burn pit at some point during their deployment. This represents a staggering 92.6% of all respondents. 

Some of the most commonly reported medical conditions included: 

  • Insomnia (80.8%); 
  • Neurological problems (71.4%); 
  • Allergies (39.6%); 
  • Hypertension (37.1%); 
  • Immune system concerns (19.1%); 
  • Chronic multisymptom illness (18.4%); 
  • Asthma (14.2%); and 
  • Chronic bronchitis (12.7%). 

Other illnesses and conditions reported included heart and lung disease, migraine headaches, and cancer. 

If you’ve suffered from these or other illnesses after exposure to a burn pit on a military base, you may qualify for veteran burn pit compensation. 

So, What Is the Average Amount of Burn Pit Exposure Compensation? 

Naturally, you might be wondering what the average VA burn pit compensation amount is. You are likely hoping that knowing an “average,” you might be able to determine what your claim might be worth.

Unfortunately, however, the answer is not so simple. 

In reality, there is no “average” amount for a burn pit compensation claim. This is because the value of your claim depends on a variety of factors that vary widely from case to case.

For example, factors that may impact the value of your potential burn pit compensation claim include: 

  • What type of burning waste material you were exposed to; 
  • The length of your exposure to the airborne hazards; 
  • What type of illness(es) and medical condition(s) you develop; 
  • The severity of your symptoms and disabilities; 
  • Whether you can show a causal connection between your service-related exposure to a military burn pit and your illness or condition; 
  • Whether you sustained short-term or long-term symptoms; and 
  • The overall cost of medical and other expenses arising out of your exposure. 

While there is no average burn pit compensation amount, these and other factors can help you determine what your claim might be worth. A qualified attorney with experience handling burn pit claims can be a great benefit to your case as you move forward. 

Grossman: Your Burn Pit Compensation Attorneys

If you have questions about the value of your potential claim, or you’re just not sure where to begin, we want to help.

At Grossman Attorneys at Law, one of our primary missions is to fight for the rights of veterans and military contractors injured overseas. We know just how much you do for our country, which is why we place such a large focus on helping you recover. 

Contact our team today if you have been exposed to a burn pit and believe that exposure caused you to develop a medical condition or disability. Let’s discuss your claims and see what we can do to help you fight for the compensation you need and deserve. 

Similar Posts