Vet News: VA Focuses Attention, Resources On Project SHAD Health Effects
WASHINGTON -- Veterans who believe they may have been exposed to dangerous substances as part of the military's "Project SHAD" or "Project 112" tests are encouraged to come to the VA for a medical evaluation.
"We owe it to those Veterans who participated in Project SHAD to find out if they have suffered any ill effects from the tests," VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi said. "If we find any medical problems or disabilities associated with Project SHAD, those Veterans will receive the benefits they deserve.
"VA is committed to helping the Veterans of Project SHAD, Project 112 and all Veterans who believe their military service has left them with medical problems," Principi added.
Until recently, all information about the shipboard tests was classified. Responding to a request from Principi, the Defense Department is sharing information with the VA as it is declassified.
On October 9, the Department of Defense (DoD) released declassified reports about 28 sea- and land-based tests of chemical and biological materials known collectively as "Project 112." They were conducted during the 1960s and early 1970s. DoD had previously declassified reports for 12 other tests.
The tests were designed to determine the vulnerability of U.S. warships to attacks with chemical or biological warfare agents. Other Project 112 tests involved similar tests conducted on land rather than aboard ships.
The VA has already undertaken a number of efforts to help these Veterans:
- As DoD provides the VA with personnel rosters of service members involved in tests, VA officials try to find the current addresses of Veterans. So far, approximately 1,300 Veterans have been notified by the VA about their potential exposure and informed about VA programs to help them.
- Since December 2000, the VA has offered medical evaluations to Veterans concerned about whether the tests have affected their health.
- Fifty-five Veterans have applied for VA disability compensation because they believe their medical problems are related to Project SHAD. Thirteen of the 55 receive VA disability compensation for medical problems unrelated to Project SHAD.
- On October 8, the VA announced that it has awarded a $3-million contract to the Institute of Medicine for a three-year study of the health of Project SHAD Veterans. IOM's formal epidemiological study will determine whether Project SHAD Veterans are experiencing health problems due to exposures during military service. It will include both Veterans receiving health care from the VA and those not enrolled for VA care to be a valid scientific study and to accurately determine the nature and causes of any health problems among these Veterans.
"We thought it critical to begin this study now, even before DoD's declassification effort is complete, in order to determine how best to serve this veteran population," said Dr. Susan Mather, chief officer of the VA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards.
The study will compare the health of Veterans who participated in the SHAD tests more than 30 years ago with the health of Veterans from the same era who served on ships not involved with the testing. The study will also compare the mortality rates of the two groups. Although the exact number of SHAD participants is not known yet, it is estimated that several thousand service members took part.
The IOM is a private, independent, non-government organization associated with the National Academy of Sciences. Additional information about the IOM can be found on the Web at http://www.iom.edu/.
Since May, using declassified information provided by the Defense Department, VA officials has been notifying Veterans who took part in Project SHAD tests. As further information is declassified, the VA will continue to notify Veterans who may have been affected. Veterans were encouraged to come to VA medical facilities if they believe they have medical problems caused by the tests.
