VA presumes certain infectious diseases are related to military service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan.  Eligible Veterans may receive disability compensation and health care for these diseases.

• Diseases Related to Service in Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan
• Research on Infectious Diseases and Gulf War Veterans
• VA Benefits
• Contact VA about Benefits

Diseases Related to Service in Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan

VA presumes the following infectious diseases are related to military service in Southwest Asia theater of operations during the first Gulf War starting August 2, 1990, through the conflict in Iraq and on or after September 19, 2001, in Afghanistan. Veterans must have the diseases within the time frames shown below and have a current disability as a result of that disease in order to receive disability compensation.

• Malaria
  An infectious disease caused by a parasite. Symptoms include chills, fever, and sweats. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation or at a time when standard or accepted treatises indicate that the incubation period began during a qualifying period of military service.
• Brucellosis
  A bacterial disease with symptoms such as profuse sweating and joint and muscle pain. The illness may be chronic and persist for years. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
• Campylobacter Jejuni
  A disease with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
• Coxiella Burnetii (Q Fever)
  A bacterial disease with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, and gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and diarrhea. In chronic cases, the illness may cause inflammation of the heart. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
• Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
  An illness that primarily affects the lungs and causes symptoms such as chest pain, persistent cough (sometimes bloody), weight loss and fever.
• Nontyphoid Salmonella
  A condition characterized by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
• Shigella
  A condition characterized by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.
• Visceral Leishmaniasis
  A parasitic disease characterized by symptoms such as fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anemia. The condition may be fatal if left untreated.
• West Nile Virus
  A disease spread by mosquitoes characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain or weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. It must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year from the date of military separation.

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Research on Infectious Diseases and Gulf War Veterans

VA contracts with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences to scientifically review evidence for possible connections between Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses and exposure to environmental agents or preventive medicine during military service.

Based on the IOM report, Gulf War and Health: Volume 5 Infectious Disease*†, the Secretary of VA has established a presumption of service connection for nine infectious diseases related to qualifying military service in the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. The diseases are brucellosis, campylobacter jejuni, coxiella burneti (Q fever), malaria, mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontyphoid salmonella, shingella, visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus. VA's final regulation* took effect September 29, 2010.

View more research on health effects of Gulf War service.

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VA Benefits

Eligible Veterans may receive VA disability compensation and health care for illnesses related to their military service.

Veterans who served in the Gulf during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn are eligible for a Gulf War Registry health exam.

Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who died as the result of illnesses related to military service may be eligible for survivors' benefits.

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Contact VA about Benefits