Kendra Peachey-Lubin is shown in this 2023 photo with her son, Hunter, at Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs, Colo. Peachey-Lubin became pregnant while serving in Iraq. Her duty involved handling and disposing of abandoned weapons. Her son was born with a rare medical condition that causes intellectual disability, muscle weakness and feeding difficulties, among other challenges. (Kendra Peachey-Lubin) WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has identified 400 former service members who experienced “possible or probable” exposures to chemical weapons during the Iraq War with the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct clinical evaluations and offer consultations and treatment, according to VA officials.

Called VET-HOME, the newly formed VA veterans exposure team for “health outcomes [from] military exposure” is expected to facilitate contact tracing, clinical exams for chemical weapons exposure and medical care for impacted veterans.

But the VA is coming under criticism from some lawmakers and impacted veterans about lengthy delays in fully implementing the clinical program to monitor the health status of the 400 veterans and develop treatment plans for them.

Istvan Gabor, a sergeant who served with the Army’s 41st Transportation Company in Iraq destroying abandoned munitions, said he has struggled to get a medical exam for possible chemical weapons exposure and benefits for Gulf War syndrome.

“I am still fighting just to get recognized by the VA and we’re kind of getting nowhere,” said Gabor, who worked at an Iraq weapons destruction site called Arlington Depot where abandoned arsenals were removed from bunkers and detonated.

The Arlington Depot, which was an Iraq base called Bayji, was about 120 miles northwest of Baghdad. Members of the Army’s 41st Transportation Company said they detonated chemical weapons in bunkers at Arlington Depot, 124 miles north of Baghdad. The depot formerly was used by Iraqi forces before coming under U.S. control. More than 70 tons of weapons were demolished at a blow pit near the depot. (Morgan Hopson) The Defense Department has not disclosed the locations where the 400 veterans were exposed to chemical weapons, and the VA does not grant disability benefits for chemical weapons exposures under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise […]

‘No one wants to touch this:’ VA treatment delayed for Iraq vets sick from chemical weapons exposure