b'u From Page 99Theresearchersconcludedthatpre-sumptiveAgentOrangeexposureis associated with greater risk of IPF and called for future research to validate this association and investigate the biological mechanisms involved.As its name implies, the cause of IPF in most cases is unknown. However, IPF and other respiratory problems have also been associated with exposure to burn pit emissionsfromopen-airwaste-burning and other airborne exposures in Gulf War era and post-9/11 veterans.Source: Epidemiology of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis among U.S. Veterans, 2010-2019. There is currently no cure for IPF, butAnn Am Thorac Soc. 2022 Feb;19(2):196-203. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202103-295OC. treatmentwithanti-inflammatoryandPMID: 34314645; PMCID: PMC8867365.anti-fibrotic drugs may slow the progres-sionofthedisease.Supplementaloxygentherapyafter service), chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive and pulmonary rehabilitation may improve activitypulmonary disease, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, levels and quality of life. constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, For many veterans diagnosed with IPF, treatmentemphysema, granulomatous disease, interstitial lung is now covered free of charge through the Sergeantdisease, pleuritic and sarcoidosis.FirstClass(SFC)HeathRobinsonHonoringourVeteranswithanyoftheseconditionsnolonger Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT)need to prove their service caused the condition; they Act, which was signed into law last summer. only need to meet the service requirements for the PACT Act Expands IPF Coverage presumption to receive free care for their condition.While some conditions caused by toxic exposuresHow Veterans Can Get Help become evident quickly, others, including IPF, mayUnder the PACT Act, veterans with IPF are eligible take several years to cause symptoms. This lag timefor care for up to 10 years from the date of their most traditionally meant many veterans were outside theirrecent discharge or separation if they:eligibilitywindowtoenrollin VAhealthcareand served in a theater of combat operationsothers struggled to prove a service connection be- during a period of war after the Gulf War, orcause of the time that had lapsed. served in combat against a hostile forceThe PACT Act makes it possible for more veteransduring a period of hostilities after Nov. 11, 1998to get treatment for IPF by: And they were discharged or released on or afterincreasing the window of time they have toOct. 1, 2013.enroll in VA healthcare from 5 to 10 yearsThey also can enroll at any time during this period following discharge for post-9/11 combatand get any care they need, but they may owe a co-veterans pay for some care.establishing a 1-year open enrollment period1Kaul B, Lee JS, Zhang N, Vittinghoff E, Sarmiento K, Collard HR,adding IPF, along with 19 other presumptiveWhooley MA. Epidemiology of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis among conditions, meaning presumed to be caused byU.S. Veterans, 2010-2019. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2022 Feb;19(2):196-exposure to burn pits and other toxins. 203. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202103-295OC. PMID: 34314645; InadditiontoIPFthesepresumptiveconditionsPMCID: PMC8867365.include 12 cancers (brain, gastrointestinal, glioblas- 2Kaul B, Lee JS, Glidden DV, Blanc PD, Zhang N, Collard HR, Whooley MA. Agent Orange Exposure and Risk of Idiopathic Pulmo-toma, head, kidney, lymphatic, lymphoma, melanoma,nary Fibrosis among U.S. Veterans. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022 neck,pancreatic,reproductiveandrespiratory)andSep 15;206(6):750-757. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202112-2724OC. PMID: respiratoryconditionsincludingasthma(diagnosed35559726; PMCID: PMC9799114.101'