The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will conduct a scientific assessment to determine if there is a relationship between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during military service and kidney cancer among veterans.

This assessment, part of the PACT Act, aims to decide if kidney cancer should be considered a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans exposed to PFAS. If deemed presumptive, eligible veterans would not need to prove their service caused their disease to receive benefits; instead, the VA would assume that exposure during military service caused the disease and provide benefits accordingly.

This review aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans and their families. It also supports the President’s Unity Agenda and Biden Cancer Moonshot goals to address environmental exposures and end cancer as we know it. The VA has expedited health care and benefits eligibility under the PACT Act by several years, extending presumptions for various cancers including head, neck, gastrointestinal, reproductive cancers, lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, hypertension for Vietnam Veterans, among others. Since the PACT Act became law, over 300 new conditions have been added as presumptive conditions.

“At VA, we want to understand the health conditions that Veterans are living with so we can provide them with all of the benefits they deserve — and that’s what this review process is all about,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “As a result of this scientific review, we may be able to make kidney cancer a presumptive condition for Veterans exposed to PFAS, thus lowering the burden of proof on these Veterans. But make no mistake: Veterans should not wait for the outcome of this review to apply for the benefits and care they deserve. If you’re a Veteran and believe your military service has negatively impacted your health, we encourage you to apply for VA care and benefits today.”

PFAS are a class of over 12,000 chemicals used in the military since the early 1970s. The VA's assessment methodology follows guidance from key stakeholders such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It will consider peer-reviewed scientific literature along with veteran claims data and other relevant information. Regardless of whether a condition becomes an established presumptive condition or not, claims will still be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The VA prioritizes processing claims for veterans with cancer and offers comprehensive cancer care services nationwide—from screening through treatment. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, more than one million veterans and their survivors have received disability compensation benefits totaling over $7 billion in earned PACT Act benefits. Nearly 740,000 veterans have enrolled in VA care during this period while more than 5.6 million have been screened for toxic exposures.

Public comments on the proposed scientific assessment between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer can be submitted via the Federal Register within a 30-day period. Additionally, a listening session will be held on November 19th where individuals can share research or input after registering to participate.