United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Public Health

Hazardous Exposures

Chemical, radiation, physical and environmental hazards during military service, possible health-related problems and VA benefits

Announcement

Marine Veterans Stationed at Camp Lejeune: If you were stationed or worked at Camp Lejeune before 1987, you may have been exposed to contaminants in the drinking water supply. To register for water testing notifications and learn more, visit the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Web site.* Studies are being conducted for the Department of Navy by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.*


Some U.S. Veterans may have been exposed to various environmental and occupational hazards during military service. This Web site provides information on:

  • What those hazardous exposures may be
  • How exposure may have occurred during military service
  • Known and possible health problems associated with each type of exposure
  • VA health care, compensation, and other benefits for health problems associated with hazardous exposures during military service

Types of Exposures

UC-123 plane spraying chemicals on foliageAgent Orange
Learn about Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam and Korea, diseases associated with herbicide exposure, and more.

 

Gulf War soldier in combat gearGulf War Veterans’ Illnesses
Learn about potential exposures for Veterans who served Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, Gulf War Veterans' illnesses, and more.

 

Soldier on side of hill in AfghanistanOperation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Hazardous Exposures
Learn about hazardous exposures during military service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, possible health problems, and more.

 

Radiation symbol on side of storage containerRadiation
Learn about ionizing and non-ionizing radiation exposure, possible health problems, and more.

 

Smoke rising from a burn pitBurn Pits
Learn about potential exposure to toxins from burn pits, possible health-related problems and VA benefits.

 

Side of tank in IraqDepleted Uranium
Learn about depleted uranium, its health problems, and more.


 

Soldier on rooftop pointing his weapon over the cityToxic Embedded Fragments
Learn about toxic embedded fragments, health problems of injuries with retained fragments, and more.

 

dog snout with teeth showingRabies
Veterans recently deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan who were bitten or exposed to the saliva of a warm-blooded animal, should be checked for rabies.

 

Soldiers marching through snowCold and Heat Injuries (Thermal Injuries)
Learn about cold and heat injuries, possible health problems, and more.


 

Aircraft carrierProject 112/Project SHAD
Learn about military tests in the 1960s and early 1970s involving biological and chemical warfare materials, possible health problems, and more.

 

World War I soldier in trench wearing gasmaskMustard Gas
Learn about mustard gas exposure during World War I, World War II, and military tests during the 1940s; and related VA benefits.

 

Factory with smokestacksOccupational & Environmental Exposures
Learn about occupational and environmental exposures, possible health problems, and more.

 

Soldier firing rifleNoise, Vibration & Other Physical Exposures
Learn about noise, vibration and other physical exposures; possible health problems; and more.



*By clicking on these links, you will leave the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.

  

Toll-free Helpline
1-800-749-8387


About Hazardous Exposures


Exposures