Burn Pits and Broken Brains: What This New Study Means for Veterans

“You left the warzone, but the smoke didn’t leave you. It lodged itself in your brain — the damage is there.” A new 2025 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine draws a hard line between burn pit exposure and long-term brain damage. It backs up what veterans have been saying for years: the toxic smoke didn’t just fill the air — it followed them home. If you served near open burn pits and now live with PTSD, balance issues, memory loss, or depression — this study might help you make your case.

🔥 What the Study Found

Researchers tracked veterans deployed to bases with active burn pits. Here’s what they found:

Higher rates of PTSD and depression
More traumatic brain injuries, even years after deployment
Increased risk of death from accidents — like falls and vehicle crashes

They’re not saying it’s just correlation. The study suggests exposure to burn pits may actually damage how the brain works — affecting mental health, balance, and judgment over time. 📄 Read the study on PubMed →

🧠 This Isn’t Just “In Your Head”

For a long time, vets were told our symptoms were “just” psychological. But this research points to something deeper — chemical and neurological damage, not just trauma. That matters. It means:

Your TBI might not come from a physical hit — but from what you inhaled.
Your PTSD symptoms might have a biological trigger — not just emotional shock.

The VA system hasn’t always been quick to catch up. But studies like this are changing the game.

📄 How This Impacts Your VA Claim

If you’ve already got ratings for PTSD, migraines, vertigo, or memory loss — and you were exposed to burn pits — this study could help:

Reopen a previously denied claim
Strengthen a current one
File for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) if your symptoms affect daily life

You don’t need a doctor to say this exact study applies to you. But it can be used as new and relevant evidence — enough to trigger a review under 38 CFR §3.156. 📘 SMC Manual Reference: M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 4, Section A → 🧾 Need help filing a new claim? Check out our VA Disability Claim Self-Help Guide.

🌍 Are You Covered Under the PACT Act?

Veterans deployed to these locations during certain periods are presumed to have been exposed to burn pits:

Afghanistan
Iraq
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Somalia
Djibouti
Syria
Uzbekistan

📍 See the full list and timeframes here →

🧩 What to Watch For

You may be dealing with effects from burn pit exposure if you struggle with:

Cooking meals
Taking your meds on time
Staying balanced
Driving or navigating safely

That’s daily living, and it matters. VA has to look at how your conditions affect your ability to function — not just whether you have a diagnosis. If your life has changed since you came home, get it documented. Lay statements from family or caregivers help. So does a good nexus letter.

🕯️ Final Thought

Some wounds don’t bleed. Some never show up on a scan. But just because the damage isn’t visible doesn’t mean it’s not real. The system may not have believed you before. But the science is starting to catch up.

Even if your claim was denied before, this new evidence gives you the right to try again. If you served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other burn pit locations — and now struggle with PTSD, memory loss, or injuries — you’re not imagining it. Download VA Form 20-0995 to file a Supplemental Claim →

Don’t give up. If the smoke followed you home — you’ve got a right to be heard.