{"id":7706,"date":"2025-12-20T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7706"},"modified":"2025-12-20T19:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:30:00","slug":"airborne-hazards-a-veteran-toolkit-for-respiratory-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7706","title":{"rendered":"Airborne hazards: A Veteran toolkit for respiratory health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-12-20T19:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

A toolkit co-designed by Veterans to address respiratory health concerns<\/h2>\n
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Army Veteran Freddy Allen,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

For Army Veteran Freddy Allen, making sure Veterans know about airborne hazards<\/a> and have the resources they need is top priority. Allen served overseas for 13 months with a field artillery unit. He understands why Veterans would be concerned about exposure to airborne hazards after experiencing environmental exposures himself and knowing how they can affect health. <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t uncommon for soldiers to \u201cburn everything to eliminate trash or waste of any kind\u201d when serving overseas. His experience motivated him to help in the creation of a toolkit for Veterans about Deployment-Related Respiratory Disease (DRRD). This toolkit was developed through an innovative co-design process by Veterans and VA professionals.<\/p>\n

DRRD is any long-term breathing problem related to exposure to airborne hazards during military service, and includes conditions such as asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis. <\/p>\n

\u201cVeterans are rightfully concerned about how exposure to airborne hazards during their service can impact them,\u201d said Dr. Anays Sotolongo, co-director of the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE)<\/a>. \u201cWe had already created a toolkit for doctors to evaluate and treat DRRD. We knew it was important to create resources for Veterans. Veterans need to be able to understand what DRRD is and what they can expect from an evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DRRD Toolkit for Veterans was commissioned by VA\u2019s AHBPCE. It was created by Veterans and VA professionals from VA\u2019s Exposure-Related Care Transformation (EXPRT) Center and VA\u2019s Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR).<\/p>\n

A collaboration with Veterans<\/h2>\n

Seven Veterans, including Allen, worked with VA professionals to design the DRRD toolkit. They met for two hours each week for four months in fall 2024. They talked about what to include in the toolkit and shared ideas on content, copy and design.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we develop resources to address Veterans\u2019 military exposure concerns, their perspectives must be integrated and at the center of everything we do,\u201d said Dr. Lisa McAndrew, director of VA\u2019s EXPRT Center<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe co-design process ensures the end product resonates with other Veterans,\u201d explained Dr. Gemmae Fix, the team lead from CHOIR.<\/a> \u201cWorking with Veterans makes our products better and demonstrates VA\u2019s commitment to learning from Veterans to improve their care.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Allen agreed that co-designing this product with Veterans makes the toolkit more credible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause it\u2019s not just information coming from some scientists or someone who\u2019s never worn a uniform. It is coming from the opinions and experiences of those that survive and have had these things resonate through their households.\u201d<\/p>\n

The toolkit<\/h2>\n

The toolkit has three parts: a webpage, a brochure and a poster. It\u2019s available online and as a printed brochure on VA\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

The toolkit includes:<\/p>\n