Exposure to radiation during military service, possible health problems, and related VA benefits
Announcement
Attention Atomic Veterans: If you are an Atomic Veteran with a related disease or disability, find out if you’re eligible for VA compensation and medical care. VA’s new brochure (1.2 MB, PDF) has the details.
Radiation is the sending out of energy from a source through space. Radiation exposure occurs when that energy passes into a living body.
There are two broad types of radiation, non-ionizing and ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation has lower energy such as in radio waves, infrared light and microwaves.
Ionizing radiation has extremely high energy. Examples of ionizing radiation are alpha particles, beta particles, X-rays from machines, and gamma-rays emitted by radioactive materials. Depending on the level of exposure, ionizing radiation may pose a health risk.
Some Veterans may have been exposed to radiation during military service from nuclear weapons testing or other radiation activities. VA offers a free Ionizing Radiation Registry health exam to all eligible Veterans.
VA has recognized certain cancers and other diseases related to radiation exposure. Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation while on active duty may be eligible for disability compensation if they have disabilities related to that exposure. Veterans and Veterans’ survivors may be eligible for compensation benefits for these diseases and health care benefits.
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