Disabled Vets Exposed to Radiation from 1966 Nuke Disaster Can Sue for Benefits


Last week, an appeals court ruled that disabled veterans exposed to radiation while cleaning up a 1966 nuclear bomb disaster are now eligible to sue for disability benefits for their related illnesses as part of a class-action suit.

According to an article published by the AirforceTimes, “The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims issued a 6-3 decision in the case Skaar v. Wilkie certifying the class of veterans, who have been denied disability benefits for illnesses they have suffered as a result of their service in Palomares, Spain. About 1,600 veterans deployed thereafter a B-52 Stratofortress bomber collided in mid-air with a refueling tanker and crashed. Four hydrogen bombs were released, and two exploded conventionally, littering the countryside with radioactive plutonium dust.”

Relevant pages: Veterans Disability