First, I would like to say Thank You to all the Veterans who came before me and leading the way. How the Va treat different Eras of veterans gets my blood boiling. Treating WWI, WWII,NAM,GULFWAR1, Veterans different than Iraq and Afghanistan is unacceptable in my book.
Second to Point_break, I have gone through the same thing as you are going through and finally got service connected for Burn Pit exposure in Iraq last year after 14 years, I to served in Iraq in 2003. There has to be a diagnoses of respiratory issues, getting treatment, opinion that your breathing and or respiratory issues are linked or connected to the Burn Pits. I had a favorable C&P for the Burn Pit a year ago and the doctor was in tears saying you guys are getting treated just like the Nam Vets because all of the evidence in there in front of the VA and stated verbally to me if any Nam Vet ever had to see him for a C&P they would get what he or she has earned. I got kind of nervous because he started going off, so I asked sir are you a veteran? He replied no, I'am sick and tired of our veterans getting screwed over and then I left not knowing what was the out come of the C&P exam.