Lackland Air Force Base
San Antonio, TX
Known Toxins1
Years of Operation1941-Present
Base Background
Lackland Air Force Base was established near San Antonio, Texas during World War II. Today it is the sole enlisted basic military training site for the Air Force and Space Force, home to the 37th Training Wing along with the 149th Fighter Wing, the 59th Medical Wing, and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy. In 2001, Lackland’s 37th Training Wing took over the flightline and industrial area of the neighboring, since-closed Kelly Air Force Base, now known as the Kelly Field Annex. Since 2010, Lackland has operated as one of three component installations of Joint Base San Antonio, alongside Fort Sam Houston and Randolph Air Force Base.
Toxic Exposure at Lackland AFB
Lackland’s fire departments have relied on PFOS- and PFOA-containing firefighting foam in training since 1970. A 2017 Air Force-wide groundwater study found that 10 of 11 tested sites at Lackland exceeded Texas Risk Reduction Program levels for these chemicals, with the most significant reading measuring 250,000 parts per trillion of PFOS, according to a 2019 news investigation into the Air Force’s own results. Joint Base San Antonio’s own Installation Support Section Chief has confirmed that PFAS contamination turned up in groundwater roughly 20 to 25 feet below the surface, not in the water piped to base housing or facilities, and that further investigation of the 11 sites, along with testing at nearby Leon Creek, has continued since.
Getting Compensation
Anyone who trained, worked, or lived at Lackland, including on the Kelly Field Annex side of the base, may have been exposed to one of these substances without realizing it, and a resulting diagnosis can still support a claim today. Check the chart below to see which conditions are linked to PFAS contamination and get a free case evaluation to learn about your options: our VA-accredited lawyers assist veterans and the survivors who file on their behalf, with no upfront costs.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Testicular cancer Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
If you were stationed at Lackland Air Force Base and developed health issues associated with toxic exposure, you may be eligible for VA disability. This will require documenting your time at the base through service records or other supporting documentation, compiling medical evidence of your diagnosis, and securing an expert medical opinion connecting your diagnosed condition to the toxic exposure.
You’re not alone: our best disability lawyers can assist you in obtaining compensation and veteran benefits in Texas (or your state). Contact us for a free evaluation of your case.