Vets urged to take part in VA listening session set Nov. 19

Kerr County-area veterans are invited to a listening session that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will conduct to focus on its plan to assess a link between certain environmental exposures during military service and cancer.

The online seminar is planned 9-10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, according to Kerr County Veterans Service Officer Jenna Sanchez. To listen or provide feedback, registration must be completed by Nov. 15 at https://www.research.net/r/PFGH8YL.

The VA is asking for public opinion on the importance of completing this assessment of scientific literature and historical claims data relating to the possible relationship between exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) and kidney cancer.

“Our veterans are encouraged to speak up about medical conditions they have been diagnosed with since serving or being exposed to toxins,” Sanchez said. “This will help the VA conduct research and this is how presumptive conditions can be added.”

The population of study will include U.S. service members who may have experienced environmental and/or occupational exposures to PFAs during military service, but additional inclusion criteria will be considered during the scientific assessment.

The VA also will ask for input on future assessments during this event.

Space will be limited to 30 slots for speakers.

Written comments must be received on or before Dec. 20, 2024. Comments must be submitted through www.regulations.gov.

For more information, contact Erin Dursa, PhD, MPH, Director of Surveillance Military Environmental Exposures, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20420. Also, Dr. Dursa’s office is available by phone at 202-461-7297.

Once the conclusions of the assessment have been appropriately reviewed by experts, there may be a formal evaluation to inform decisions regarding veterans’ qualifying period of service, such as those who served on active military, naval or air service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, as well as Somalia, Afghanistan, Djtbouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan from Sept. 11, 2002, until present day.