Public Health
DOD identifies Veterans potentially exposed to chemical warfare agents
Some Veterans were exposed to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) while handling or demolishing explosive ordinance during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn. They may have been exposed while working as explosive ordinance disposal personnel, during an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack, or during the open-air demolition or transport of CWAs. Potential CWAs that Veterans may have been exposed to include sulfur mustard, lewisite, and nerve agents, such as sarin. In addition, Veterans may have been exposed to weaponized toxic industrial chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, benzamine and nitric acid.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has worked hard to identify service members potentially exposed to CWAs. DoD searched 1.8 million Post-Deployment Health Assessments (PDHAs) and 1.1 million Post-Deployment Health Reassessments (PDHRa) using key words related to a chemical exposure. DoD identified 7,923 individuals with medical records that showed potential exposures. Since medical records may be incomplete, DoD created a hotline for Veterans and service members to call in and report exposure to a CWA.
These efforts resulted in DoD contacting and interviewing 1,790 Veterans and service members using an in-depth telephone screening questionnaire about their exposure to CWAs. Next, DoD invited 324 individuals to receive an in-person medical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. This exam was also available for all Veterans who requested to be seen at Walter Reed. VA documented these exams in VA medical records for those enrolled in VA health care. Each Veteran who had an exam at Walter Reed also received a letter from VA providing additional information. These Veterans are encouraged to seek health care for conditions that are associated with their exposure and to submit a claim for service-connected benefits. DoD will be sending out a follow-on letter approximately five years after the original examination.
If you are among those identified as exposed to CWAs and you are enrolled in VA’s health care system, please keep your contact information up-to-date with VA. If you are not enrolled in VA’s health care system, please contact your local VA Medical Center for assistance. If you have any additional concerns or questions regarding CWAs or toxic industrial chemical exposure, please contact VA’s Post Deployment Health Services at (202)-266-4695, or the U.S. Army Public Health Center at usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.mbx.emp@mail.mil.
