VA Launches Updated Burn Pit Registry

The Department of Veterans Affairsopens VA.gov is advancing efforts to address issues associated with military-related toxic exposure by launching a redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registryopens Publichealth.VA.gov, known as the Burn Pit Research Registry.

“This tool is a significant improvement in making data available in a way that better serves all those who were exposed to burn pits and other hazards,” said Dr. Lester Martínez-López, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.

The registry is a secure database of health information provided by veterans and service members to help the VA better understand, research, and improve treatment for certain health challenges veterans experience following exposure to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service.

According to the VA, no medical information will be stored in the registry, and veteran and service member data will be accessible only to select VA epidemiologists and researchers, and institutional review board-approved researchers. It will be used to conduct research on the cohort over a period of time. The results will inform the policy decision-making efforts of VA executive leaders, including those related to presumptive conditions.

Burn Pit Registry Redesign Auto Enrolls Participants and Simplifies Requirements | Health.mil