Earlier this week, VA announced a scientific assessment to determine whether exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during military service could be a variable in the onset of kidney cancer among veterans. The result could eventually lead to the establishment of kidney cancer as a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans exposed to PFAS. The assessment is a process codified under the PACT ACT passed two years ago.

Some 12,000 chemicals, in use in the military since the early 1970s, fit the criteria to be PFAS. They resist grease, oil, water, and heat. Found in cleaning products, paints, fire-fighting foams, and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, their widespread persistence in the environment means that PFAS from past and current uses have resulted in increasing levels of contamination of the air, water, and soil—all sources of maximum exposure during military service.

VA already prioritizes claims processing for veterans with cancer and offers comprehensive cancer care services to veterans across the nation from screening through treatment. For additional details, view the related VA press advisory dated September 24.