On March 1st, the VA announced an intended proposal to add several rare respiratory cancers to the list of presumed service-connected illnesses for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations as well as in other locations. The rare cancers include squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx; squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea; adenocarcinoma of the trachea; salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea; adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung; large cell carcinoma of the lung; salivary gland-type tumors of the lung; sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung; and typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung. Although rare, these illnesses are severe, and their circumstances raised a presumption that they had a connection with service. Adding these rare cancers to the list of presumptive illnesses will fast track veterans suffering from them for medical care and benefit payments.