After serving in Afghanistan, Scott Evans was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
He is part of a growing number of veterans who’ve developed serious diseases after prolonged exposure to burn pits at overseas bases. #NBCNewsThreads (1/7) nbcnews.to/2RpQcni
He is part of a growing number of veterans who’ve developed serious diseases after prolonged exposure to burn pits at overseas bases. #NBCNewsThreads (1/7) nbcnews.to/2RpQcni
The U.S. Dept. of Defense estimates that roughly 3.5M service members could have been exposed to burn pits.
“Over the next decades, I'd be shocked if we didn't see spikes in disease in these patients,” Dr. Tom Abrams says. (2/7)
“Over the next decades, I'd be shocked if we didn't see spikes in disease in these patients,” Dr. Tom Abrams says. (2/7)
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have taken up the cause.
Advocates and legislators led by Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Rubio, and Jon Stewart have taken to Capitol Hill to rally in support of a measure to expand care and benefits to veterans affected by burn pit-related illnesses. (3/7)
Advocates and legislators led by Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Rubio, and Jon Stewart have taken to Capitol Hill to rally in support of a measure to expand care and benefits to veterans affected by burn pit-related illnesses. (3/7)
Getting the VA to acknowledge burn pit-related illnesses has been a losing battle for many.
Even if they meet the burden of proof, veterans say the approval process can take months to years, wasting precious time for those with terminal illnesses. (4/7) nbcnews.com/news/military/…
Even if they meet the burden of proof, veterans say the approval process can take months to years, wasting precious time for those with terminal illnesses. (4/7) nbcnews.com/news/military/…
Legislators are hopeful that this will be the year burn pit reform makes its way through Congress, because of a unique connection to President Biden.
Biden has suggested that his son deployment in Iraq may have had something to do with his brain cancer diagnosis. (5/7)
Biden has suggested that his son deployment in Iraq may have had something to do with his brain cancer diagnosis. (5/7)
“We set aside money for war, but we don’t set aside money for the true cost of it,” Jon Stewart tells @LesterHoltNBC. (6/7) nbcnews.com/nightly-news/v…
@LesterHoltNBC Even after initial difficulties obtaining care from the VA, Evans says he has no regrets over his military service.
"The thing I'm most proud of is everybody who walked behind me has all their limbs and came back safe. And if the cost of it was getting cancer—that's fine.” (7/7)
"The thing I'm most proud of is everybody who walked behind me has all their limbs and came back safe. And if the cost of it was getting cancer—that's fine.” (7/7)
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