Burn Pit Legislation: Louisiana passes law to help veterans

On May 28, Louisiana Governor Jindal signed into law SB 538 which is known as the Staff Sergeant William Austin Daniel Military Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2014. The voluntary registry this created will allow service members and employees of contractors who have been exposed to dangerous burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan to document their injuries and receive updates on “recent scientific developments on the effects of exposure, availability of possible treatments, applying for service-connected disability compensation benefits with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as appealing an existing or requesting an upgrade to a disability rating given by VA.” The registry will be created and operated by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA).
 
“Motley Rice applauds the efforts of the state of Louisiana for passing a law to create a state registry that will assist veterans with documenting open air burn pit injuries,” says Motley Rice lawyer James Ledlie. “This is an important first step in helping to better understand burn pits, their effects on our veterans and assisting veterans with receiving benefits they are due.”
 
Learn more about burn pits.