CLARITY Act Seeks Public Tracking of VA Studies on Toxic Exposure Illnesses

Lawmakers are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to publicly disclose the specific toxic exposure-related illnesses under evaluation, asserting that veterans are entitled to transparency regarding how the federal government assesses eligibility for benefits.

U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the Presumptive Clear Legal Assessment and Review of Illnesses from Toxic Exposure Yields (CLARITY) Act in early November. The bill would mandate that the VA establish and sustain a publicly accessible website outlining the procedures the agency employs to investigate toxic exposures and assess potential links to various medical conditions.

The website will also inform veterans when the VA updates its internal review lists by adding or removing exposures or illnesses—information that is currently maintained in confidence.

This measure ensures that veterans affected by ailments related to toxic exposure receive vital information, according to Blumenthal's statement. Veterans demand transparency, understanding the specific conditions the VA is assessing and the rationale behind these evaluations.

For many years, veterans and advocacy organizations have criticized the VA for what they characterize as opaque and inconsistent decision-making regarding hazardous exposure claims. Many people have pushed for a more precise explanation of how conditions are labeled as "presumptive," which helps veterans get healthcare and disability benefits without needing to prove a direct link to their service.

The CLARITY Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to explain, in simple terms, the scientific evidence they are considering, the rules they use to link toxic exposures to veterans' service, and when they will conduct evaluations. Supporters assert that the reform would help veterans understand the maladies the agency is evaluating and provide them with an opportunity to offer their input.

Supporters contend that the measure represents a logical progression after the enactment of the PACT Act. This comprehensive 2022 legislation broadened benefits for millions of veterans affected by burn pits, Agent Orange, and various other hazardous exposures. Although the PACT Act facilitated access to healthcare, it did not require the VA to disclose its ongoing research initiatives to the public.

Veterans organizations have long asserted that the lack of transparency causes many former service members to remain uncertain whether their health conditions are being adequately taken into account—or if they should anticipate a protracted appeals process.

Under the CLARITY Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be obligated to update the public website whenever new toxic exposures are identified, when illnesses are added or withdrawn from the study, and when scientific findings are revised.

The bill has garnered initial bipartisan interest; however, legislators have not yet scheduled a committee markup or vote. If enacted, the measure would represent the first instance in which the VA is legally mandated to provide real-time data regarding its toxic exposure assessments.