Sec. 735. Health assessments of veterans diagnosed with pandemic diseases to determine exposure to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals

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The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the first health assessment or physical examination furnished to a veteran under the laws administered by the Secretary after the veteran tests positive for a pathogen, such as a virus, with respect to which a public health emergency has been declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ) includes an evaluation of whether the veteran has been— based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used; or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or other airborne contaminants relating to service in the Armed Forces, including an evaluation of any information recorded as part of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.

If an evaluation conducted under paragraph

(1)with respect to a veteran establishes that the veteran was based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used, or that the individual was exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or other airborne contaminants, the individual shall be enrolled in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry unless the veteran elects to not enroll in such registry. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to preclude eligibility of a veteran for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by reason of the history of exposure of the veteran to an open burn pit not being recorded in an evaluation conducted under paragraph (1). The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study, through the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (in this subsection referred to as the Center ), on the health impacts of infection with a pathogen, such as a virus, with respect to which a public health emergency has been declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ), including a coronavirus, to members of the Armed Forces and veterans who have been exposed to open burn pits and other toxic exposures for the purposes of understanding the health impacts of the pathogen and whether individuals infected with the pathogen are at increased risk of severe symptoms due to previous conditions linked to toxic exposure. The Secretary, through the Center, shall analyze potential lessons learned through the study conducted under paragraph

(1)to assist in preparing the Department of Veterans Affairs for potential future pandemics. In this subsection: The term Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry means the registry established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 ; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). The term coronavirus has the meaning given that term in section 506 of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–123 ). The term open burn pit has the meaning given that term in section 201(c) of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 ; 126 Stat. 2422; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).

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