KARSHI KHANABAD AIR BASE VETERANS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXPEDITED CLAIMS


By bblouin
Crew chief Tech. Sgt. Robert Rothove, signals a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft to come to a stop at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, on Jan. 17, 2005, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Initially utilized by the Soviet Union, the Karshi Khanabad (K2) Air Base can be found in Uzbekistan. It was used by US forces following 9/11. The use of the base provided a strategic advantage in the area. However, those at K2 were exposed to various toxic chemicals as a result. The PACT Act opened the door for those affected to receive military base toxic exposure Veterans disability benefits. Now, new efforts are streamlining the process even further. Here’s everything K2 Veterans need to know.

Why the US Went to the Karshi Khanabad Air Base

Because the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base is in southeast Uzbekistan, right over the border from Tajikistan, and is in strategic proximity to Afghanistan, 7,000 people working for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) were sent to K2.

Also known as Camp Stronghold Freedom, K2 held the American Armed Forces between 2001 and 2005 as we fought the Taliban and al-Qaeda during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Primarily, the 416th Air Expeditionary Group called K2 was involved until America vacated completely between May and November 2005 after relations soured while unrest spread throughout Uzbekistan.

K2 Pollution

Many occupational hazards go into serving our nation. However, the hazards at K2 continue affecting those in the military community.

Various contaminations from the Soviet era were found at K2, including jet fuel plumes, asbestos, and low-level radioactive processed uranium. This is due to the destruction of missiles beforehand.

Reports of black goo seen coming from the ground, a pond that showed brightly green, and contaminated rainwater flooding tents where service members stayed only highlighted these hazards further. Sadly, for many Veterans of Karshi Khanabad Air Base, these conditions would lead to cancer.

Adding to the problems, not everyone was accounted for in terms of lingering health problems. While the DoD took action to help limit toxic exposure, many K2 Veterans criticize them as not enough. Furthermore, multiple entities (including the VA) denied issues connected to K2 and the increase in cancer in some Veterans.

The K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021

Despite the VA and others not confirming issues found at K2, there was still a push to provide Veterans with benefits. The K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021 didn’t pan out.

However, the idea was to provide a presumption of specific, service-connection health issues to those who served at the post. By doing so, benefits for healthcare and disability would be available.

The PACT Act is Helping K2 Veterans

While the K2 Veterans Care Act was unsuccessful, the PACT Act opened up the door for the military toxic exposure list to a variety of Veterans, including those at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base.

K2 Veterans can apply for benefits through the VA. Beginning in 2024, the service-connected designation is finally being granted.

If You Served at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Here’s How to Expedite Your VA Claim

Because K2 Veterans are now receiving a service-connected designation, disability claims can be expedited, to help those affected receive the help they deserve, quicker. Even if you aren’t sure if you have a health condition, if you served at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base, the VA is encouraging you to apply for disability benefits or healthcare online or by calling 1-800-MYVA411.

K2 Veterans may have symptoms similar to Gulf War Illness or no obvious conditions at all. If you are a Veteran who served at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base, you may want to consider exploring your compensation options.

K2 Bladder, Urethra, and Other Genitourinary Cancers Added

On October 30, 2024, VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced an exciting update applying to K2 Veterans, with plans to add bladder, urethra, and other genitourinary cancers to a list of presumptive service-connected diseases for those who served at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base.

Veterans with presumptive conditions no longer need to prove their illness is service-related, expediting their claims process. It has come to be now that the VA is no longer relying on external scientific recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering.

These changes have come about because of the PACT Act, which now allows the VA to make presumptive connections using internal claims data.

As mentioned above, the VA added several respiratory conditions and rare cancers to its presumptive list since the passage of the PACT Act. Now, this new update is looking to expand things even further through new presumptive conditions expected next week.

Secretary McDonough highlighted recent additions, such as asthma and rare respiratory cancers, and plans for multiple myeloma and blood cancers. Though not officially confirmed as of this writing, the decision is expected in early November 2024 with all signs pointing to a positive result for K2 Vets.

Veterans’ advocates praised the move along with the ongoing efforts by the VA to address toxic exposure at K2 and ensure comprehensive care for affected Vets and their families.

So far, there have been around 13,000 of the 16,000 K2 Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, with nearly 12,000 receiving disability ratings for conditions related to their service at the Karshi Khanabad Air Base.

Suggested reads:


CONNECT WITH US
VeteranLife Logo

©2024 VeteranLife. All rights reserved.