Multiple studies show that military and civilian firefighters have been diagnosed with testicular cancer at higher rates than people in most other occupations, often pointing to the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the foam. But the link between PFAS and testicular cancer among service members was never directly proven — until now. For the first time, a new federal study shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel, and testicular cancer.

As many as 100 spouses of deceased service members are expected to travel to Capitol Hill in late September to lobby for a bill that would eliminate penalties imposed for decades on husbands and wives who want to remarry. The measure, called the Love Lives On Act, is the first “comprehensive” legislative attempt to address nearly all benefits affected by the age requirement at once. At least 30,000 surviving spouses would benefit from the proposed legislation. The average age of a spouse at the time of their partner’s death is now 25 to 35, but the law currently states a veteran’s surviving spouse who remarries after the veteran’s death with remain eligible for DIC benefits if the spouse is at least 55 years old.

The unexpected death of your loved one has left you reeling. As you grieve the loss, you must also consider practical matters like how to make ends meet and whether the death is related to your military service. You may qualify for VA survivor benefits in the event of your loved one’s suicide if they were a veteran experiencing a mental health issue related to military service.

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