Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act of 2025

This bill aims to help service members, veterans, and some Defense Department civilians who were exposed to toxic substances. It expands the military’s exposure record (called ILER) to track all toxic exposures and related medical info, and makes that data available to VA doctors and benefits staff when members leave the service . It presumes that Defense personnel who worked at certain Department of Energy sites were exposed to toxins, so they don’t have to prove it later . It also labels the Nevada Test and Training Range as a contamination site, requires the Air Force to identify people stationed there since January 27, 1951, and eases proof for those individuals . For VA claims, certain activities at covered Nevada locations are treated like radiation-risk work, exposure is presumed for those assigned there (including in the airspace), and some conditions—like lipomas and tumor-related conditions—are presumed service-connected for affected veterans .

Key points:

• Who is affected: Current and former service members; Defense civilians at covered DOE facilities; veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range; VA and DoD health and benefits staff who use exposure records .
• What changes: ILER is expanded to include all toxic exposures and related medical info and is shared with VA; exposure is presumed for Defense personnel at covered DOE sites; the Nevada range is officially marked as contaminated; VA updates what counts as radiation-risk activities and adds presumptions for exposure and certain conditions .
• When: Applies to Nevada service dating on or after January 27, 1951; ILER info is meant to be available as members transition to civilian life .