Public Health
Military Exposures & Your Health - Fall/Winter - Issue 17
In this issue:
- Military Environmental Exposure Assessments
- Evaluation Pathways for Military Environmental Exposures
- Research Findings:Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Gulf War Illness, and Early Menopause
- HOME Training for VA Health Care Providers
Military Environmental Exposure Assessments
A Military Environmental Exposure Assessment (MEEA) is a clinical evaluation for Veterans concerned about military environmental exposures. If you're enrolled in VA health care and have had toxic exposure screening, you are eligible for a MEEA.
How It Works:
Expert Evaluation: A specially trained VA clinician will review your exposure history and address any concerns.
Documentation: Your exposure history will be recorded in your electronic health record.
Follow-Up: You’ll receive medical guidance and follow-up recommendations via email or letter.
Scheduling a MEEA:
Contact your local Environmental Health Coordinator or the VET-HOME program.
No referral is needed, though your VA care team may recommend one.
Choose between in-person (may have limited times and copay) or telehealth (free and widely available).
Evaluation Pathways for Military Environmental Exposures
VA provides multiple ways to evaluate and address your military environmental exposures:
Toxic Exposure Screening (TES):
Available every 5 years for Veterans enrolled in VA health care.
Takes about 5-10 minutes with a health care provider.
Starts a conversation about your exposures and connects you to appropriate resources.
Military Environmental Exposure Assessment (MEEA):
In-depth clinical evaluation to follow up on concerns identified during a TES.
Conducted by VA clinicians with specialized training.
Choose between in-person or telehealth appointments.
Environmental Health Registry Evaluation:
Free, voluntary medical assessments for Veterans exposed to environmental hazards during service.
Available to Veterans with specific service dates and locations.
Includes specific registries such as the Gulf War Registry and Ionizing Radiation Registry.
Helps VA understand and care for similar Veterans as a group.
Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P):
Assesses disabilities and determines eligibility for disability compensation.
Evaluates whether claimed medical conditions are connected to military service.
Conducted by VA medical professionals or private contractors.
Research Findings: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Gulf War Illness, and Early Menopause
In a study of Gulf War Era women Veterans, VA researchers found that 1990-1991 Gulf War Era women Veterans with PTSD or Gulf War Illness (GWI) were more likely to experience early menopause. The Gulf War Era Cohort Study, which followed nearly 700 women from the 1990-1991 Gulf War in 1995 and again in 2012, observed a higher prevalence of early menopause among those meeting criteria for PTSD or GWI in 1995 compared to those without.
Key Findings:
PTSD in 1995: Prevalence of early menopause was 25.3%, compared to 12.3% without PTSD.
GWI in 1995: Prevalence of early menopause was 19.2%, compared to 12.3% without GWI.
Early menopause (before age 45) is linked to health risks like premature mortality, poor bone health, and cardiovascular disease. If you are a 1990-1991 Gulf War Era woman Veteran who has experienced early menopause, discuss potential health impacts with your provider.
For more information, visit: PubMed Study.
HOME Training for VA Health Care Providers
On June 25, 2025, VA’s Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME) and War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) hosted virtual training on military environmental exposures and health for VA health care providers. Topics included exposure-informed care, risk communication, benefits updates, the Military Environmental Exposure Assessment, and PACT Act research updates.
The next day, an advanced review course and certification test were conducted, covering in-depth case studies. The goal of these trainings is to enhance VA health care providers' abilities to care for Veterans.
