DAV helps veteran secure benefits related to burn pit exposure
Author: Nikki Herrmann Date: 07/01/2026
Retired Air Force Col. Steve Visco
After 27 years of service in the Air Force, Steve Visco was diagnosed in 2021 with follicular lymphoma, a cancer linked to toxic exposure during his military service.
Throughout his career, Visco deployed multiple times to Saudi Arabia, including during Operation Desert Shield. During those deployments, he lived and worked near burn pits, where military waste was routinely burned. Years later, exposure to burn pit smoke would be recognized as a cause of numerous illnesses and cancers, including lymphoma.
For two years, doctors monitored Visco's cancer as it progressed slowly. Then, in 2023, it transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a more aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Following chemotherapy, Visco experienced the toll the disease took on his health and his family.
When he later filed a disability claim through the Department of Veterans Affairs, his cancer was recognized as service-connected under the PACT Act, the DAV-championed legislation that expanded benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. However, his claim was incorrectly rated at 0%.
Knowing something wasn't right, Visco turned to DAV for help. After reviewing his case, a DAV benefits advocate identified the error and worked with the VA to correct it. Within hours, Visco received the proper disability rating and the benefits he had earned.
“It’s obvious that DAV has the knowledge, the resources and the contacts to make things happen,” said Visco. “I’m very grateful to DAV.”
To hear more of Visco’s story, listen below.
