Sponsors (11)
Creates a presumption that active military, naval, air, or space service at specified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range between January 1, 1972 and December 31, 2004 qualifies as toxic exposure for purposes of VA benefits. It defines which sites at the Range are “covered” (including Indian Springs Auxiliary Airfield) and excludes certain bases (Nellis AFB and Creech AFB). The bill also adds lipomas and related tumor conditions to the list of presumptive conditions for veterans who meet that service-location test.
Redesignate existing subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, within Section 1119(c).
Insert a new subparagraph (A) into paragraph (1) stating that a person who on or after January 1, 1972 and before January 1, 2005 performed active military, naval, air, or space service while assigned to a duty station in (including airspace above) a covered location at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, is covered by the presumption of toxic exposure.
Add a new paragraph (4) defining the term "covered location at the Nevada Test and Training Range" to mean a location at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, including a location at Indian Springs Auxiliary Airfield, but not including a location Nellis Air Force Base or Creech Air Force Base.
Redesignate paragraph (15) of Section 1120(b) as paragraph (16).
Insert a new paragraph (15) after paragraph (14) in Section 1120(b) that states: "Only in the case of a covered veteran described in section 1119(c)(1)(A), lipomas and tumor related conditions.." (text as provided).
Last progress February 18, 2025 (11 months ago)
Introduced on February 18, 2025 by Mark E. Amodei
Who is affected and how:
Directly affected: veterans (and survivors/beneficiaries filing claims) who performed active military, naval, air, or space service at the specified covered locations of the Nevada Test and Training Range between January 1, 1972 and December 31, 2004. Those individuals will receive a statutory presumption that their service involved toxic exposure, which generally lowers the burden of proof when seeking VA service-connection and related benefits.
Health/benefits implications: claimants fitting the location/date criteria will have an easier path to establish service connection for illnesses tied to toxic exposure, and specifically for lipomas and tumor-related conditions now listed for that subset of veterans. This could increase approved disability awards, medical care eligibility, and related VA benefits for affected veterans and survivors.
Administrative impact on VA: the Department of Veterans Affairs will need to update claims-adjudication guidance, process potentially increased claims from affected veterans, and adjust medical and financial forecasting to reflect any added caseload and benefit payments. The VA may also need to issue policy guidance on how to document service at the defined locations.
Geographic/community effects: the change is site-specific (Nevada Test and Training Range) so most benefit changes accrue to veterans who served at those locations and to communities with concentrations of those veterans. Excluding Nellis AFB and Creech AFB clarifies that service at those bases is not covered by this particular presumption.
Secondary effects: potential increases in benefit awards and health-care utilization could raise long-term VA obligations for the specific cohort; the bill does not itself appropriate funds, so costs would be handled through existing VA benefit and medical funding processes.
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.