The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) is a VA-maintained database established by Congress under 38 U.S.C. § 527 to track the long-term health of veterans and service members who were exposed to airborne hazards during military deployments. Administered by VA's Office of Public Health, the registry collects detailed information about:
The registry serves two complementary purposes. First, it is a public health surveillance tool — researchers and VA epidemiologists use the aggregate data to study patterns of illness among exposed veterans, identify emerging health trends, and inform future policy and medical care. Second, it is a personal documentation resource — enrollment creates an official, contemporaneous record of your exposure history and health concerns that can be used to support future disability claims.
Open burn pits became ubiquitous in U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly in the period 2001–2010 before DoD regulations required their phase-out. The largest burn pit — at Joint Base Balad (also known as Logistical Support Area Anaconda) in Iraq — burned up to 200 tons of waste per day at its peak, releasing a toxic mixture of dioxins, particulate matter, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds. Veterans and civilian contractors working and living near burn pits reported respiratory symptoms, rashes, neurological problems, and cancers at rates that alarmed advocates and medical researchers.
For years, DoD and VA maintained that there was "no conclusive evidence" linking burn pit exposure to long-term health effects — a position that effectively denied benefits to thousands of sick veterans. Congress responded by mandating the registry in 2013, requiring VA to track exposed veterans longitudinally and produce annual reports to Congress on health findings. The PACT Act of 2022 accelerated this effort by establishing presumptive service connection for dozens of conditions — but the registry remains an important independent tool.
Eligibility for the AHOBPR is based on where and when you served. You are eligible if you are a veteran, active duty service member, or Reserve/Guard member who served in any of the following:
| Service Era | Location | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf War | Southwest Asia (Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Jordan) | August 2, 1990 — present |
| Gulf War | Egypt, Syria, Airspace/waters of above locations | August 2, 1990 — present |
| Post-9/11 | Afghanistan, Djibouti, Uzbekistan | September 19, 2001 — present |
| Post-9/11 (expanded) | Somalia, Lebanon, Yemen and 10+ additional locations | Various — see 38 CFR § 3.320(b) |
You do not need to have served directly next to a burn pit to qualify. Any service in a covered location makes you eligible. However, if you did serve proximate to burn pits — meaning your base, FOB, or duty location had an open burn pit operating within a reasonable distance — document that proximity specifically in the registry questionnaire.
Guard and Reserve service members who deployed to covered locations under federal orders (Title 10) are eligible for the AHOBPR. State Active Duty (Title 32) deployments to covered locations may also qualify. Contact your state VA or VSO if you are unsure whether your Guard/Reserve deployment qualifies for registry enrollment.
Many veterans ask: "If I already have my DD-214 and medical records, why do I need the registry?" The answer is that the AHOBPR adds several layers of documentation value that go beyond what your existing records provide.
When you enroll in the AHOBPR, you create an official VA record documenting your exposure concerns — ideally before you file a disability claim. This pre-claim documentation is valuable because it shows that your symptoms and exposure history were reported to VA independently of any compensation motive. An early, contemporaneous exposure record can rebut arguments that a disability claim was manufactured after the fact.
The AHOBPR health examination (described in detail below) is conducted by a VA clinician specifically trained in toxic exposure assessment. The exam notes document your reported symptoms, your exposure history, any physical findings, and recommendations for follow-up. These records become part of your VA health record and can be submitted directly as evidence in a disability claim.
When VA performs the AHOBPR health exam and documents your burn pit or airborne hazard exposure in the medical record, VA itself is acknowledging your exposure. This can be strategically valuable in a disability claim, particularly if VA later attempts to contest the exposure nexus element of the claim.
The registry health exam screens for conditions across multiple organ systems — some of which veterans may not have associated with their deployment. The exam may identify respiratory conditions, neurological findings, or other health issues that, once identified and documented, can form the basis of new disability claims under PACT Act presumptives.
Under the PACT Act, VA is required to presume service connection for a range of conditions in veterans who served in covered locations. AHOBPR enrollment doesn't change the law, but it creates a documented exposure record in VA's own systems that is directly relevant to PACT Act processing. Some VA regional offices have prioritized PACT Act claims for enrolled veterans.
Enrollment in the AHOBPR is entirely online and free. Here's exactly how to do it:
The questionnaire's value depends on the quality of information you provide. Don't minimize exposure or assume proximity doesn't matter. If you could smell smoke from the burn pit, you were exposed. Document every deployment location, every base that had a burn pit you remember, and every symptom — even symptoms you think are unrelated. You can always add more detail; you cannot un-minimize information already submitted.
One of the most valuable and underutilized benefits of AHOBPR enrollment is the free comprehensive health examination. This is not a standard VA compensation and pension (C&P) exam — it is a health screening exam conducted by a VA clinician with training in toxic exposure-related conditions.
If the AHOBPR exam identifies conditions requiring follow-up, you are entitled to that follow-up care at VA. Do not ignore referrals or recommendations. Beyond the direct health benefit, the follow-up records generated by the exam and any specialist consultations create a longitudinal medical record of exposure-related conditions — exactly the kind of documented medical history that strengthens VA disability claims.
Your AHOBPR records — specifically the questionnaire data and the health exam findings — can be used in multiple ways to support a VA disability claim:
Under the PACT Act, qualifying service alone establishes the exposure presumption — you don't need to document specific burn pit proximity. But if you face a non-PACT claim where individual exposure evidence matters, the AHOBPR records documenting your specific deployment locations, base assignments, and exposure proximity provide official VA documentation of your exposure history.
The AHOBPR health exam is a VA medical examination. Its findings — documented by a VA clinician — carry weight in the disability claim process. If the exam identifies respiratory abnormalities, neurological findings, or other conditions consistent with toxic exposure, these findings can be cited as medical evidence in your claim.
Even where a separate nexus letter is needed, the AHOBPR records can serve as supporting evidence that VA's own clinicians acknowledged exposure-related symptoms — potentially contradicting a C&P examiner's unfavorable opinion.
Obtain copies of your AHOBPR questionnaire completion confirmation and health exam notes through MyHealtheVet or your VA facility's medical records office. Include these documents as attachments to your VA Form 21-526EZ or upload them to your Benefits.VA.gov claim file. In your claim's cover letter, specifically reference: "Supporting documentation includes AHOBPR enrollment records and health examination findings documenting airborne hazard exposure consistent with service in [location] from [dates]."
The PACT Act of 2022 and the AHOBPR are separate but complementary systems. Understanding how they interact helps you use both effectively.
| Feature | PACT Act | AHOBPR |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Establishes legal presumptions for disability claims | Documents exposure history; provides health screening |
| Required for benefits? | Yes — PACT Act filing is how you get benefits | No — voluntary enrollment; supplements claims |
| Creates benefits automatically? | No — you must file a claim | No — creates documentation only |
| What it covers | 50+ named conditions; respiratory, cancer, neurological | All exposure-related health concerns across all systems |
| How it helps your claim | Legal framework eliminating nexus requirement | Official exposure documentation, medical records |
The optimal strategy: Enroll in AHOBPR first (or simultaneously with filing a PACT Act claim). Complete the health exam. Use both the PACT Act legal presumption and the AHOBPR documentation together to build the strongest possible claim package.
For the PACT Act filing itself, see our comprehensive guide: PACT Act Presumptive Conditions: Complete 2026 Guide. For burn pit claims specifically: Burn Pit Exposure VA Claims Guide.
VA operates two related but distinct registries for veterans with toxic exposure concerns:
| Registry | Primary Era | Key Exposures | Free Exam? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHOBPR (Airborne Hazards & Open Burn Pit Registry) | Post-9/11 (OEF/OIF/OND), extended to Gulf War era | Burn pits, particulate matter, industrial pollution, oil fires | Yes |
| Gulf War Registry | Gulf War (1990–present SW Asia) | Oil well fires, chemical weapons, depleted uranium, pesticides | Yes |
If you served in the Gulf War era (Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 1990–1991) and later in post-9/11 operations, you may be eligible for both registries. Enrolling in both creates a comprehensive exposure record spanning your full service history. There is no harm in dual enrollment — it creates more documentation, not less.
Registry Enrolled — Now File Your Claim
AHOBPR enrollment documents your exposure — but you still need to file a VA disability claim to receive benefits. If you've been diagnosed with a respiratory condition, cancer, or other illness potentially related to burn pit exposure, REE Medical can provide nexus letters from physicians experienced in post-deployment conditions to support your PACT Act claim.
Learn About Nexus Letters for Burn Pit Claims →claim.vet may receive a referral fee if you use this link. Veterans never pay more.
Yes. The registry covers all airborne hazards — including dust/sand storms, vehicle exhaust, and industrial pollution from nearby facilities. You don't need to have been stationed directly adjacent to a burn pit. Any airborne hazard exposure during service in a covered location qualifies you for enrollment.
Do your best with what you remember. Organizations like the Burn Pits 360 advocacy group maintain lists of documented burn pit locations by base name and period of operation. Your unit records, deployment orders, and buddy statements can also help document your specific base assignments. The registry allows you to update your information if you remember more details later.
No. The AHOBPR health exam is available to enrolled veterans at any time — there is no expiration deadline. Contact your nearest VA medical center or CBOC to schedule the exam. If your health has changed since enrollment, you can also update your questionnaire responses.
PACT Act eligibility is based on where and when you served — not on registry enrollment. However, having an AHOBPR enrollment record can complement your PACT Act claim by providing documented exposure evidence. PACT Act claims can be filed regardless of registry enrollment status.
Enrollment in the AHOBPR is supporting evidence — it doesn't guarantee claim approval. If your claim is denied despite PACT Act presumptive eligibility, consider a Supplemental Claim with additional medical evidence (including your AHOBPR health exam records and a private nexus letter), Higher-Level Review, or Board of Veterans' Appeals. A free claim review can help identify the best path forward:
Understand your PACT Act options before the claim deadline. Free review — no phone calls required.
Start My Free Claim Review — No Phone Required →Editorial Standards: Written by Marcus J. Webb, veterans benefits researcher. Verified against current 38 U.S.C. § 527, 38 CFR § 3.320, and PACT Act provisions. Last reviewed: July 2026. Not legal advice — for representation, talk to a VA-accredited attorney.