How to Join the Veterans Administration Burn Pit Registry

The VA established the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) in 2014 to help put data to work for Veterans through research about the potential health effects of airborne hazard exposures.

By joining the registry, you can provide information to help the VA better understand if long-term health conditions may be related to these exposures.  Even if you have not experienced any symptoms or illnesses you believe are related to exposures during military service, your participation in the registry could help the VA provide better care to all Veterans.

To check your eligibility for the registry and complete the online questionnaire, visit the secure registry portal.

  • Participation in the registry is voluntary and cannot negatively impact your access to VA health care or your claim for compensation and benefits.
  • You may save and submit your responses to the registry questionnaire and notes from optional medical assessment to support your VA claim.
  • Completing the questionnaire can also help you proactively identify health concerns, discuss them with your healthcare provider, and get follow-up care.
  • You can participate even if you do not recall exposure to airborne hazards during your military service.

Burn Pit Registry Eligibility

You are eligible to participate in the registry if you were deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations or Egypt any time after August 2, 1990, or Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, or Uzbekistan on or after September 11, 2001

Veterans Crisis Line Badge
 You are eligible to participate in the registry if you were deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations or Egypt any time after August 2, 1990 or Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, or Uzbekistan on or after September 11, 2001.
  • Regions and countries include: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Egypt.
  • Operations and campaigns include: Desert Shield and Desert Storm (ODS/S), Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Enduring Freedom (OEF), and New Dawn (OND).

Note: You do not have to have been exposed to specific airborne hazards or have related health concerns to participate in the registry.

While these hazards may have been present in other locations or during other time periods, participation in the registry is currently limited to support specific research and public health studies.  Even if you are not eligible for the registry, the VA encourages any veteran who is concerned their military service has impacted their health to talk to their health care provider, apply for VA health care, and file a claim for compensation and benefits.  You do not have to participate in the registry to receive compensation and benefits or health care from VA.

To learn more about other types of military exposures, visit the military exposures homepage.

How to Participate in the Burn Pit Registry

To participate, visit the secure registry portal and log in using your DSLogon credentials.  You can also log in at Login.gov, ID.me, or My HealtheVet, or join the registry at https://eauth.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectFor=ahobpr.

Map of Southwest Asia with countries highlighted in which burn pits were a common practice