PFAS / AFFF Firefighting Foam Exposure
What PFAS and AFFF are
PFAS is a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in industrial and consumer products. Two of the most studied — PFOA and PFOS — were core ingredients in AFFF, the firefighting foam used by the military to extinguish fuel fires. PFAS persists in the environment and the human body, which is why it is sometimes called a 'forever chemical.'
Conditions linked to PFAS in the medical literature
Some of these associations are stronger in the scientific literature than others. The C8 Health Project and ongoing CDC ATSDR studies remain key sources.
- Kidney cancer.
- Testicular cancer.
- Thyroid disease.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension / preeclampsia.
- Hypercholesterolemia.
- Decreased vaccine response.
Likely-exposed populations
- DoD firefighters and crash-rescue personnel.
- Flight-line and fuel-handling crews.
- Personnel stationed at bases with documented PFAS contamination of drinking water (DoD has published a list).
- Family members residing on affected base housing.
Developing a PFAS claim today
Until VA establishes broader presumptives, PFAS claims usually proceed on a direct service-connection theory: documented exposure (, base assignment, registry enrollment) plus a current diagnosis plus a medical opinion linking the two. CDC ATSDR PFAS literature is frequently cited as supporting medical literature.
Conditions associated with this exposure
Grouped from peer-reviewed literature and federal health agency summaries. Inclusion here is for awareness only — it does not establish a presumption or guarantee service connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
- Briefing on PFAS in Groundwater at DoD Installations — U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations & Environment) · DoD overview of PFAS / AFFF release sites, sampling results, and remediation status.
- PFAS Toxicological Profile — CDC / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up (2022) — National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- VA — Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- EPA — PFAS Explained — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Tell us about your claim, rating increase, or VA decision for a free case evaluation — a decision letter is helpful but not required. If your matter fits our current scope, we'll invite you to schedule a consultation.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
Okinawa Herbicide Exposure
Veteran reports of Agent Orange storage, spraying, and burial on Okinawa (1960s–70s) — DoD's position vs. ongoing advocacy and how to develop a direct claim.
Blue Water Navy (Vietnam) Exposure
12-nautical-mile presumption under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 — qualifying ships, dates, and how to prove offshore service.
K2 / Karshi-Khanabad (Uzbekistan)
Service at K2 air base from 2001–2005 — recognized PACT Act presumptive location and known contaminants.
Hexavalent Chromium (Qarmat Ali)
Sodium dichromate exposure at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq, 2003.