{"id":70466,"date":"2022-09-28T21:29:04","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T21:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/28\/va-to-screen-all-patients-for-toxic-exposure-issues\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:33:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:33:43","slug":"va-to-screen-all-patients-for-toxic-exposure-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2022\/09\/28\/va-to-screen-all-patients-for-toxic-exposure-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"VA to screen all patients for toxic exposure issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs physicians will begin screening all department patients for military-related toxic exposures<\/a> starting in November, the latest step in efforts to understand the scope and severity of injuries caused by burn pit smoke<\/a> and other battlefield toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new screening tool, mandated under legislation passed by Congress this summer<\/a>, has been used at 15 VA medical center pilot locations over the past few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal <\/a>told reporters Wednesday that of the more than 13,000 veterans who have gone through the screening so far, about 37% said they have \u201cconcerns\u201d about possible toxic exposure issues during their time in the ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat represents a substantial percentage of veterans in our care that may have been exposed to a toxin that we were not aware of,\u201d Elnahal said. \u201cThat could mean more benefits or a higher medical priority categorization for them \u2026 This is clearly already bearing fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t