Veterans' Benefits: Independent Review Could Improve Credibility of Radiation Exposure Estimates
HEHS-00-32
Published: Jan 28, 2000. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2000.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) use of "radiation dose reconstruction" as a tool for determining veterans' eligibility for benefits, focusing on: (1) studies that assessed the validity of dose reconstruction for estimating veterans' radiation exposure and discussing the issue with experts in the field and other knowledgeable individuals; (2) what activities are in place to oversee the dose reconstruction process; and (3) alternatives for deciding veterans' claims for compensation related to radiation exposure.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should establish an independent review process for the dose reconstruction program under which independent verifications of a sample of individual dose reconstructions are made. |
Closed – Implemented
Public Law 106-419, passed November 1, 2000, requires the Department of Defense to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to carry out periodic reviews of the dose reconstruction program.
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Topics
CarcinogensClaims processingData collectionMilitary benefits claimsNuclear radiation monitoringNuclear weapons testingRadiation exposure hazardsRadiation safetyVeterans disability compensationRadiation exposure