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Warfare Agents
Exposure during military service to chemical and biological weapons listed below potentially could cause certain health problems in Veterans, depending on a number of other factors.
Chemical & Biological Weapons
Use of biological toxins or infectious agents in Gulf War with intent to kill or incapacitate
Chemical Warfare Agents (OIF)
Exposure to mustard or nerve agents from demolishing or handling explosive ordinance in Iraq
Mustard Gas
Military tests of mustard agents in the 1940s
Edgewood/Aberdeen Experiments
Classified medical studies of low-dose chemical agents conducted from 1955-1975
Nerve Agents
Toxic chemicals that attack the body's nervous system
Project 112/Project SHAD
Military tests of chemical/biological warfare materials conducted in the 1960s to early 1970s
Herbicide Tests and Storage
Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam, tested or stored elsewhere
Warfare Agents
Chemical or biological toxins used to kill or incapacitate others.
Some Veterans may have been exposed to warfare agents during a combat or terrorist situation. For more specific information on who may have been exposed, visit the pages in the \"Other Useful Resources\" section.
inhalation, dermal
Southwest Asia, USA, Canada, Europe, North Asia, East Asia
World War II, Cold War, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND)
1939-1975, 1980-1988, 2001-present
Chemical
Nerve agents: In gas, aerosol or liquid form, nerve agents enter the body through inhalation or the skin, and interfere with the nervous system. Sarin, tabun, soman and VX are among the classified nerve agents. Health effects depend on the amount of exposure to a nerve agent.
- Symptoms of acute, low-dose nerve agent exposure include: runny nose, chest tightness, \"pinpoint\" or abnormally constricted pupils, excessive salivation and sweating, abdominal cramps, muscle twitching, visual disturbances, headache, slurred speech, nausea, hallucinations and confusion.
- Symptoms of acute, high-dose nerve agents include: coughing and breathing problems, loss of consciousness, seizures, paralysis, and coma and potentially death from respiratory/nervous system failure.
- These initial symptoms of nerve agent toxicity occur within minutes to hours of the exposure. Fatigue, irritability, nervousness, and memory deficits may persist as long as six weeks after the exposure.
- Those with mild-to-moderate nerve agent exposure usually recover completely.
Vesicants: These kinds of agents cause blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact. Mustard gas belongs to a class of organic compounds that include sulfur mustard (Yperite) and nitrogen mustard. Lewisite is an arsenic-containing agent in this class. As gases, these agents appear yellow-brown in color and smell like mustard, garlic, or horseradish. In pure form at room temperature, they are thick and almost-odorless liquids.
- Exposure to mustard is usually not fatal.
- Signs and symptoms may not occur for up to 24 hours. These can include: redness and itching of the skin, irritation, pain, and swelling of the eyes, runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, bloody nose, sinus pain, shortness of breath, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and decreased formation of blood cells (aplastic anemia) or decreased red or white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia).
- Exposure to mustard liquid is more likely to produce significant burns and scarring than is exposure to mustard vapor. Extensive breathing in of the vapors can cause chronic respiratory disease or repeated respiratory infections.
Biological
A biological attack, or bioterrorism, is the intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops. Anthrax is a common agent to be used in such an attack.
- Symptoms depend on the exposure pathway and can appear between 1 day and 2 months after the exposure. These can include: swelling, fever and chills, blistering, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and headache.
- If left untreated, anthrax infections have the potential to spread throughout the body and cause severe illness or death.
- VA Nerve Agents webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/nerve-agents/index.asp
- VA Mustard Gas webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/mustardgas/index.asp
- VA Project 112/Project SHAD webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/shad/index.asp
- VA Edgewood Arsenal webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/edgewood-aberdeen/index.asp
- VA Munitions at Khamisiyah, Iraq webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/sources/chem-bio-weapons.asp
- ATSDR - Nerve Agents FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts166.pdf
- ATSDR - Mustard Gas FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts49.pdf
- WRIISC - Anthrax Vaccine Fact Sheet
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/education/factsheets/anthrax.pdf
National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reports:
- IOM – Gulf War and Health: Updated Literature Review on Sarin (2004)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/11064/chapter/1
- IOM - Assessing Health Outcomes among Veterans of Project SHAD (2016)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/21846/chapter/1
Get a Registry Evaluation
- VA Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
- Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) Team
- https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp
Contact your local https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp, or VA Primary Care Team about getting a registry evaluation.
WRIISC Link
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp
For evaluation for difficult-to-diagnose conditions, contact your local https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp.
VA presumes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosed in all Veterans who had 90 days or more continuous active military service is related to their service.
1900 2100 1910 2110 All Conflicts Southwest Asia- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/index.asp
Gulf War Veterans with the following presumptive illnesses do not need to prove a connection with their military service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations if they appear by December 31, 2016 and are at least 10 percent disabling. They may be eligible for disability compensation if they have a service-connected condition and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. These conditions include:
Medically unexplained illnesses (popularly called 'Gulf War Syndrome')
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions.
- Fibromyalgia - a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems.
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders - a group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome.
- Undiagnosed illnesses - symptoms may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances
*These conditions are not necessarily associated with any specific exposure, but have been determined to be associated with service in Southwest Asia. The policy also provides compensation for certain infectious diseases.
*For more information, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/index.asp
1900 2100 Gulf War, Operation Joint Endeavor (OJE), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Southwest Asia- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/index.asp
Gulf War Veterans with the following presumptive illnesses do not need to prove a connection with their military service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations. They may be eligible for disability compensation if they have a service-connected condition and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. These conditions include:
Infectious diseases are related to military service in the Southwest Asia theater of military 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 transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms include chills, fever, and sweats. It must be at least 10 percent disabling within one 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 percent disabling within one 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 percent disabling within one 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 percent disabling within one year of 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 percent disabling within one year of the date of military separation.
- Shigella - A condition characterized by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of 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 percent disabling within one year from the date of military separation.
*These conditions are not necessarily associated with any specific exposure, but have been determined to be associated with service in Southwest Asia. The policy also provides compensation for certain infectious diseases.
*For more information, visit:
1990 2100 Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Southwest Asia, South-Central AsiaFor Veterans who participated in a radiation-risk activity, which is specifically defined in 38 CFR 3.309 (d)(3) during service, VA presumes that certain cancers are related to their exposure.
1962 1974 Cold War USAWhen no presumed service connection has been established by law, Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to their exposures during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All LocationsIf you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well. Most Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All LocationsCertain Veterans may be afforded enhanced eligibility status when applying and enrolling in the VA health care system. Veterans who:
1900 2100 All Conflicts All LocationsWhen a Veteran of any period of service receives a valid diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), service connection may be granted if the illness is associated with an in-service stressful event.
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations- https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-exposures-mustard.asp
VA may grant service connection for certain diseases or disabilities as the result of full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during military service.
For more information, visit: https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-exposures-mustard.asp
1939 1975 1980 1988 2001 2100 Cold War USA, Canada, Western/Central Europe, North Asia, Southwest Asia, East Asia- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/registry-exam.asp
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 the Gulf War Registry examination.
- For more information, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/registry-exam.asp
- https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
- http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/action-plan.asp
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry: VA's Office of Public Health has established a registry for individuals concerned about exposure to airborne hazards during recent deployments. To be eligible, you must be a Veteran or Servicemember who deployed to contingency operations in Southwest Asia at any time on or after August 2, 1990 (as defined in 38 CFR 3.317(e)(2)), or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after September 11, 2001. These regions include the following countries, bodies of water, and the airspace above these locations:
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- Djibouti
- Gulf of Aden
- Gulf of Oman
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Waters of the Persian Gulf, Arzabian Sea, and Red Sea
The registry consists of a web-based self-assessment to be completed by the eligible individual, which can be found at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/action-plan.asp. Participants may also schedule an optional in-person clinical evaluation by a VA provider. Active Duty Servicemembers who would like a similar voluntary medical evaluation may contact your local military hospital or clinic and state that you would like an appointment specifically to address health concerns related to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry exposures. Please note a medical evaluation is NOT required to be in the registry.
- For more information, visit: https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
