Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§603 Incorporation of Toxic Exposure Screening for Veterans.

Title 38 › Part II— GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter 11— COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH › § 603

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The VA must add a short screening about possible toxic exposures for veterans in the VA’s annual patient enrollment system. This screening had to start within 90 days after August 10, 2022. Each enrolled veteran must take the screening at least once every five years. The VA Secretary, with help from medical experts, will pick the questions. At minimum the screening must ask about exposure to open burn pits and other toxic exposures tied to military service. An "open burn pit" means a place the Secretary of Defense used to burn trash outdoors without a commercial incinerator. Printed help and resources must be at every VA medical center for veterans without internet. The VA must review the screening content at least every two years.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §603

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

“(a)Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall incorporate a screening to help determine potential toxic exposures during active military, naval, air, or space service as part of a health care screening furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, to improve understanding by the Department of toxic exposures while serving in the Armed Forces.

“(b)The Secretary shall ensure that a veteran described in subsection (a) completes the screening required under such subsection not less frequently than once every five years.

“(c)“(1)The questions included in the screening required under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Secretary with input from medical professionals.

“(2)At a minimum, the screening required under subsection (a) shall, with respect to a veteran, include—

“(A)a question about the potential exposure of the veteran to an open burn pit; and

“(B)a question regarding toxic exposures that are commonly associated with service in the Armed Forces.

“(3)In this subsection, the term ‘open burn pit’ means an area of land that—

“(A)is designated by the Secretary of Defense to be used for disposing solid waste by burning in the outdoor air; and

“(B)does not contain a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and manufactured for the burning of solid waste.

“(d)In developing the screening established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that print materials complementary to such screening that outline related resources for veterans are available at each medical center of the Department to veterans who may not have access to the internet.

“(e)The Secretary shall consider updates to the content of the screening required under subsection (a) not less frequently than biennially to ensure the screening contains the most current information.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 603

Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60