‘The proof demonstrates that the veteran was uncovered to an environmental hazard — burn pit chemical substances — whereas serving in Afghanistan’
Article content material
A Canadian soldier “uncovered to hazardous chemical substances” from burn pits whereas serving two excursions in Afghanistan has been granted full compensation for testicular most cancers after Veterans Affairs initially denied his utility.
The previous soldier, now a veteran, just isn’t named in a brand new resolution from the Veterans Evaluate and Attraction Board out of Prince Edward Island.
Commercial 2
Article content material
“The proof demonstrates that the veteran was uncovered to an environmental hazard — burn pit chemical substances — whereas serving in Afghanistan,” the three-person Charlottetown panel concluded.
“The attraction panel accepts that publicity to burn pit smoke is related to the event of the claimed situation of most cancers of the left testicle. This proof has not been contradicted by proof on the contrary.”
It granted the previous soldier “five-fifths” compensation for his “ache and struggling,” retroactive to Sept. 1, 2021. Veterans Affairs gained’t disclose what these compensation awards quantity to when it comes to {dollars} on account of privateness issues.
The veteran served about 16 months in Afghanistan between November 2007 and June 2010. He labored with the Provincial Reconstruction Staff in Kandahar Metropolis throughout his first tour and at Kandahar Airfield throughout his second.
He first utilized for compensation in June 2019, however was denied by each Veterans Affairs and, later, an attraction panel.
“I’m writing to supply an influence assertion relating to my prognosis … of testicular most cancers in 2019 which I strongly imagine is due to my service throughout a number of excursions of obligation in Afghanistan,” the previous soldier stated in a press release contained within the Sept. 18 resolution.
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“I used to be constantly uncovered to numerous hazardous situations that might doubtlessly have contributed to well being points, together with testicular most cancers.”
Really useful from Editorial
He described common publicity to burn pits whereas serving in Kandahar Metropolis. “The smoke was actually noticeable within the evenings when it could cool off. The smoke would keep low and would roll over the camp.”
He noticed “burn pits which occurred every day and there was one which was pretty shut by,” stated the brand new resolution.
“He doesn’t know what was being burned. He breathed within the smoke every day and had no masks.”
The choice describes how the US “established a presumption of publicity to hazardous substances and a presumption of a medical nexus for specified situations (in 2022). It established that in case you served within the Vietnam Struggle, the Gulf Struggle, Iraq, Afghanistan, or another fight zone after 9/11 it’s presumed that you’d have been uncovered to particular toxins and hazards together with burn pits, sand and dirt, particulates, oil properly or sulfur fires, chemical substances, radiation, warfare brokers, depleted uranium, herbicides, and different occupational hazards.”
Commercial 4
Article content material
In response to the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs, “waste merchandise generally disposed of in open burn pits embrace: chemical substances, paint, medical and human waste; steel and aluminum cans; munitions and unexploded ordnance; petroleum and lubricant merchandise; plastics, rubber, wooden, and meals waste,” stated the brand new resolution.
It factors out that publicity to smoke from the pits might have brought about “irritation and burning of eyes or throat, coughing, respiratory difficulties, pores and skin itching or rashes. Many of those situations are momentary and resolve on their very own when the publicity ends. Nonetheless, in case you had been nearer to burn pit smoke or had been uncovered for longer durations of time, chances are you’ll be at better danger for longer-term well being situations.”
The U.S. regulation dubbed the PACT Act, which stands for Promise to Tackle Complete Toxics, addresses such exposures for American troops.
The Canuck veteran with testicular most cancers “had hassle respiratory when he was in Afghanistan however didn’t report it and easily carried on,” stated the Charlottetown panel.
“If the veteran had served within the U.S. navy, he would have met the presumption of hazardous publicity contained within the PACT Act. Whereas this isn’t determinative within the Canadian context, it’s affordable to imagine that, whereas serving in Afghanistan, Canadian troopers would have additionally been uncovered to poisonous smoke related to burn pits.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
The choice contains an April 21, 2024, medical report from Dr. Mandy Liedeman, a common practitioner in Ontario. She was “fairly stunned” Veterans Affairs rejected the previous soldier’s incapacity declare.
After reviewing the medical file of the veteran in query “and all different documentation associated to his declare and denial,” Liedeman stated the ensuing chemical substances from burn pits would “embrace dioxins, polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons, risky natural compounds, carbon monoxide, hexachlorobenzene, and ash.”
That’s what was “circulating within the air constantly at many navy bases in Afghanistan,” she stated.
“As (the veteran) describes there was seen smoke within the air constantly. As well as, two of his fellow troopers, who had been uncovered to the identical setting have developed testicular most cancers, do you assume this can be a coincidence?”
Signs from that publicity wouldn’t develop instantly, she stated. “One wouldn’t count on any signs throughout his early publicity to the carcinogens. It could take time for the malignant progress to develop, thus one would solely develop into symptomatic when the most cancers is of a big measurement. It’s fairly affordable for this course of to take 10 years.”
Commercial 6
Article content material
Liedeman famous “there have been no air high quality laws in Afghanistan through the time interval” the soldier was deployed to Kandahar.
The Ontario doc identified that since August of 2022 veterans within the U.S. who had been uncovered to burn pits have been capable of apply for compensation for a variety of cancers, together with testicular most cancers.
“The attraction panel finds … Dr. Liedeman’s opinion to be persuasive, specifically, given the U.S. Army remedy of the claimed situation in related circumstances,” stated the brand new resolution.
“Dr. Liedeman has rigorously reviewed the medical historical past, the veteran’s publicity to burn pits whereas in Afghanistan and accessible medical literature. She concluded that there was a hyperlink between burn pit chemical substances and testicular most cancers. Accordingly, the attraction panel will resolve any doubt on this regard within the veteran’s favour.”
Veterans Affairs Canada denied the soldier’s first declare in April of 2022 as a result of “the proof didn’t point out that any service-related components brought about, contributed to, or aggravated the situation of most cancers of the left testicle,” stated the brand new resolution.
Final August, the Veterans Evaluate and Attraction Board additionally denied him compensation as a result of he “didn’t embrace a reputable medical opinion supporting entitlement.”
Our web site is the place for the newest breaking information, unique scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and join our every day publication, Posted, here.
Article content material