K2 Veterans Act: Automatic Service Connection for Toxic Exposure Illnesses.
This bill aims to simplify access to healthcare and disability benefits for veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan. It establishes an automatic presumption that a wide range of serious illnesses, including cancers and heart conditions, are connected to toxic exposure during their service. This change removes the burden of proof from veterans, speeding up their access to crucial financial and medical support from the VA.
Key points
Veterans who served at K2 Air Base in Uzbekistan will receive automatic service connection for over 15 categories of serious diseases (e.g., all cancers, heart, neurological, and respiratory diseases).
The change significantly streamlines the process for veterans applying for VA disability compensation and healthcare by eliminating the need to prove the link between service and illness.
The list of covered conditions includes any cancer, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.
Introduced
Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_5915
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Process start date: 2025-11-04