The VA will begin the rulemaking process to add bladder, ureter, and genitourinary cancers as presumptive conditions for veterans stationed at Uzbekistan’s Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, better known as K2, the department’s top official announced Oct. 29.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough also preliminarily indicated that the same will be done for multiple myeloma and leukemias as part of remarks at the National Press Club during his annual pre-Veterans Day progress report.

Those who served at K2, including servicemembers among the first to deploy following 9/11, were exposed to a “toxic soup” that jeopardized both their immediate and long-term health, McDonough said. He also stated that when these veterans returned home, many developed disabling medical conditions.

MOAA aided in the efforts to raise the plight of K2 veterans and their toxic exposures in Ending the Wait for Toxic-Exposed Veterans, our report co-authored with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) which provides a blueprint for timely, equitable access to exposure-related benefits. One such servicemember, Mark Jackson, noted that one of the first things he noticed upon his arrival at the base was his “throat and eyes stinging from … this rotten smell.”

He quickly concluded that “this place is toxic.”  His service at K2 was followed by a myriad of medical issues, including irritable bowel syndrome and thyroid disfunction.

What’s Changing for K2 Veterans

McDonough highlighted that the VA is building upon prior actions and implemented the following:

• Eliminated the PACT Act phase-in period for presumptive benefits. This makes all K2 veterans immediately eligible for care and benefits related to more than 300 presumptive conditions.
• Made all K2 veterans eligible for VA health care, whether or not they’ve filed a benefits claim with the VA.
• Initiated the rulemaking process to make chronic multisymptom illness, also known as Gulf War Illness, a presumptive condition for K2 veterans.
• Made sure the unique toxic exposures at K2 are taken into account and each new K2 claim gets reviewed a second time prior to a final determination.
• Reached out to every known living K2 veteran to encourage them to contact the VA for care and benefits. 

These actions provide a pathway for veterans who served at K2 to receive care for conditions biologically linked to affiliated toxic exposures.

[VA.GOV RESOURCES: Karshi-Khanabad Air Base]

“K2 vets now have higher claim and approval rates than any other cohort of veterans,” McDonough said. 

However, many challenges remain. The secretary noted in his remarks that K2 veterans have waited over 20 years for recognition of their exposure to toxic materials. And while he has initiated steps to correct previous inaction, organizations like MOAA must continue to advocate for those exposed to deadly toxins.

By highlighting the stories of Jackson and others, and by demonstrating the real-world impacts of K2 exposure, MOAA has consistently worked to shed light on these issues. The VA has recognized this work, done in coordination with other veterans service organizations, and acknowledged the efforts of all advocates who continually fight for veterans.

For over 23 years, K2 veterans waited to have their exposure recognized. That is far too long. MOAA will continue to fight on behalf of veterans, and we will help hold the VA accountable so that veterans, including those who served at K2, are never forgotten.