{"id":76890,"date":"2023-10-26T14:48:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T14:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/26\/lawmakers-push-for-burn-pit-benefits-related-to-kosovo-deployments\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:05:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:05:45","slug":"lawmakers-push-for-burn-pit-benefits-related-to-kosovo-deployments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2023\/10\/26\/lawmakers-push-for-burn-pit-benefits-related-to-kosovo-deployments\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers push for burn pit benefits related to Kosovo deployments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Senate lawmakers are pressing Veterans Affairs officials to take a closer look at possible military toxic exposure injuries for troops who served in Kosovo<\/a> in the late 1990s and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, senators unanimously adopted an amendment to their annual VA appropriations plan<\/a> that would mandate a new department review of \u201ctoxic exposure risk activities while serving in Kosovo.\u201d The move could potentially pave the way for benefits for thousands of veterans who deployed to the central European country over the last few decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of particular concern are the potential lingering effects of toxic smoke from burn pits<\/a> used in the country to dispose of household waste and other materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dangers of burn pit fumes have been highlighted following their widespread use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, as part of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act \u2014 better known as the PACT Act<\/a> \u2014 Congress expanded veterans disability benefits for 12 types of cancer and 12 other respiratory illnesses linked to the toxic smoke in those areas of operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kosovo<\/a>, however, was not among places where long-term respiratory illnesses and cancers are presumably linked to military duties. At least 25,000 active-duty and National Guard troops have been deployed to Kosovo over the last 20 years, according to Defense Department data.<\/p>\n\n\n\t