Care of Veterans With Service in Uzbekistan
Signed: January 19, 2021
Published: January 25, 2021
Document Number: 2021-01712
📋Summary
This executive order directs the Department of Veterans Affairs, working with the Department of Defense, to consider treating veterans who served on active duty in Uzbekistan from October 1, 2001, to December 31, 2005, as having served in a combat theater for certain VA health care purposes. It affects service members and veterans who were deployed to Uzbekistan during that period, especially those who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base. It requires the Department of Defense, within one year, to conduct a detailed study of possible toxic exposures at that base, including what contaminants were present, who may have been exposed, and when and where exposures occurred. The order also requires an epidemiological study of related health outcomes and an assessment of whether any identified toxic exposures are linked to those health consequences, with findings reported to the President through the VA Secretary.
💼Business Impact
This order most directly affects healthcare providers (VA community care networks, hospitals, clinics, behavioral health), government contractors supporting VA/DoD health programs, and insurers/employers with significant veteran workforces, because it could expand eligibility for VA care and presumptive service-connected conditions tied to toxic exposure at Karshi-Khanabad. Compliance and opportunity centers on preparing for increased demand for screenings, specialty care, documentation, and claims-support services; contractors may see new solicitations for epidemiological research, environmental/toxicology analysis, data management, and medical evaluations. Businesses should immediately (1) identify employees/customers who served in Uzbekistan (2001–2005) and ensure HR/benefits teams can route them to VA resources, (2) for providers, tighten intake workflows to capture deployment/exposure history and medical documentation that supports VA claims, and (3) for contractors, monitor VA/DoD procurement notices and position capabilities for the required study, reporting, and downstream care programs.
Full Text
Executive Order 13982 of January 19, 2021
Care of Veterans With Service in Uzbekistan
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall consider whether to designate veterans who served on active duty in Uzbekistan between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, as veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations pursuant to section 1710(e)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 2 . Within 365 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a rigorous study investigating toxic exposure by members of the Armed Forces deployed to the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan (Air Base), between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. The Secretary of Defense shall submit a report summarizing the findings of the study to the President, through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The study shall include the following elements:
(a) A detailed assessment of the conditions at the Air Base between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, including identification of any toxic substances contaminating the Air Base during such period, the exact locations of the toxic substances, the time frames of exposure to the toxic substances, the service members exposed to the toxic substances, and the circumstances of such exposure.
(b) A rigorous epidemiological study of any health consequences for members of the Armed Forces deployed to the Air Base between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. This study shall be of equivalent rigor to studies used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make determinations regarding diseases subject to presumptive service connections.
(c) An assessment of any causal link between exposure to any toxic substances identified in subsection (a) of this section and any health consequences studied under subsection (b) of this section.
Sec. 3 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
( printed page 6834)(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 19, 2021.