BURN PITS 360 STATEMENT
CONTACT: Kalen Cotto
EMAIL: k@kmc.digital
Burn Pits 360 acknowledges the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to halt enforcement of the interim final rule regarding the “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication.” While this pause reflects the serious concerns raised by veterans, it does not resolve the underlying problem.
Halting enforcement is not the same as withdrawing the rule.
As long as the interim final rule remains in place, it can be reinstated at any time—creating ongoing uncertainty for veterans living with toxic exposure-related conditions covered under the Honoring Our PACT Act.
Veterans deserve permanent protection, not temporary assurances.
Burn Pits 360 continues to call on the VA to:
- Fully withdraw the interim final rule
- Reissue any proposed policy through a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Allow full public, clinical, and veteran community input before any changes are finalized
Toxic exposure illnesses—including respiratory disease, cancers, and other PACT Act presumptives—are complex, progressive, and often marked by long latency periods.
Medication may help manage symptoms, but it does not eliminate the underlying disease or the lifelong burden veterans carry.
