Iraq War Veterans Health Issues

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This simple hack // ensures that the height is not computed until the next run of the event // loop setTimeout(() => { navTriggerPlaceholder.style.height = getButtonHeight(true) + 'px' buttonBackground.style.height = getButtonHeight(false) + 'px' }, 0) } function setMenuTriggerPosition() { navTriggerPosition = navTriggerPlaceholder.offsetTop } function pinTrigger() { if (mobileMediaQuery.matches) { if (navTriggerPosition < window.pageYOffset) { navTrigger.classList.add('fixed-trigger') } else { navTrigger.classList.remove('fixed-trigger') } } } // As the document loads, make sure the height and trigger positions are // updated document.onreadystatechange = () => { setElementHeights() setMenuTriggerPosition() } window.addEventListener( 'resize', () => { // The height of the trigger can change at extreme browser widths setElementHeights() // The trigger can be pushed up/down as elements above it change height as // the browser width changes setMenuTriggerPosition() // We might need to pin/unpin the trigger if we transitions from/to mobile // browser widths pinTrigger() }, false ) window.addEventListener( 'scroll', () => { // We are resetting the trigger button's position on scroll just in case any // elements have been removed from above the menu trigger, such as a // dismissible alert. setMenuTriggerPosition() // Primarily scrolling will pin/unpin the trigger from the top of the // viewport pinTrigger() }, false ) </script> <article class="usa-content vads-u-padding-bottom--0"> <div data-widget-type="i18-select"></div> <h1>Iraq War Veterans health issues</h1> <div class="va-introtext"> <p>If you served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation New Dawn (OND)—anytime between March 19, 2003, and December 15, 2011—you may be at risk of certain health conditions. Learn about these conditions and what to do to take care of your health.</p> </div> <va-alert data-template="blocks/alert" data-entity-id="179" status="info" class="vads-u-margin-top--3" uswds> <h2 slot="headline" class="vads-u-font-size--h3" id="the-pact-act-expands-benefit-a"> The PACT Act expands benefit access for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances </h2> <p>The PACT Act is a new law that expands access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they've earned and deserve.</p> <p><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="91667982-fb65-4bff-91b0-cbc41352a3f1" href="/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits" title="The PACT Act and your VA benefits">Learn how the PACT Act may affect your VA benefits and care</a></p> </va-alert> <div class="feature"> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a" data-entity-id="3075" data-analytics-faq-section data-analytics-faq-text="What health risks should I know about related to my service in the Iraq War?"> <div id="3075"> <div class="vads-u-display--flex"> <h2 id="what-health-risks-should-i-kno"> What health risks should I know about related to my service in the Iraq War? </h2> </div> <div data-entity-id="3075"> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="3076"> <div itemprop="text"> <p>You may be at risk of:</p><ul><li>Health problems caused by toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials in the environment, like:<ul><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/sand-dust-particulates/index.asp"><strong>Sand, dust, and particulates</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Tiny matter found in the air</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/index.asp"><strong>Burn pit smoke</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Smoke from open-air pits often used to get rid of waste (like chemicals, paints, munitions, and other substances) at military sites in Iraq</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/depleted_uranium/index.asp"><strong>Depleted uranium</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Uranium used in military tank armor and some bullets</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/mishraq-sulfur-fire/index.asp"><strong>Sulfur fire (Al Mishraq, Iraq)</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A fire at a sulfur plant that burned for almost a month in June 2003 and released large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the air</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/chemical-warfare-agents-oif.asp"><strong>Chemical warfare agents (OIF)</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Exposure to mustard or nerve agents from demolishing or handling explosive ordnance in Iraq</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/qarmat-ali/index.asp"><strong>Chromium (Qarmat Ali, Basrah, Iraq)</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Hexavalent chromium (a chemical known to cause cancer) found in contaminated sodium dichromate dust at the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Facility in 2003</li></ul></li><li>Injuries caused by:<ul><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/heat-injuries/index.asp"><strong>Extreme heat</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Health problems (like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and sunburn) that can be caused by serving in hot desert climates</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/toxic_fragments/index.asp"><strong>Toxic embedded fragments</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Shrapnel and other metals (some containing chemicals) that stay in your body after an injury and can cause injury at the site of the fragment or in other parts of your body</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/traumatic-brain-injury.asp"><strong>Explosions</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Explosions that can cause concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI), an injury to the head that affects the way your brain works</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/noise/index.asp"><strong>Noise</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Harmful sounds from guns, explosives, rockets, heavy weapons, jets and aircraft, and machinery that can cause or contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears)</li></ul></li><li>Illnesses caused by:<ul><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/infectious-diseases/index.asp"><strong>Infectious diseases</strong></a><strong>:</strong> There are 9 infectious diseases related to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan military service. These are malaria, brucellosis, campylobacter jejuni, coxiella burnetii (Q Fever), mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontyphoid salmonella, shigella, visceral leishmaniasis, and West Nile Virus.</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/rabies/index.asp"><strong>Rabies</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A disease that you get from a bite or contact with saliva from an infected animal</li></ul></li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/categories/occupational-hazards.asp"><strong>Illnesses or injuries caused by occupational (job-related) hazards</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Chemicals, paints, radiation, and other hazards you may have come in contact with through your military job</li><li><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/mefloquine-lariam.asp"><strong>Side effects of Mefloquine (brand name: Lariam®)</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A drug given to military personnel to help protect against malaria (an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes)</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="application/ld+json" nonce="7SjDQMymecCn2MoxnNcZd5MCzy9qqx2Q"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What should I do now?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "" } } ] } </script> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a_section" data-entity-id="3078"> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a" data-entity-id="3077" data-analytics-faq-section data-analytics-faq-text="What should I do now?"> <div id="3077"> <div class="vads-u-display--flex"> <h2 id="what-should-i-do-now"> What should I do now? </h2> </div> <div data-entity-id="3077"> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="3079"> <div itemprop="text"> <p>Take these steps to make sure you’re taking care of your health:</p> </div> </div> <div data-template="paragraphs/process" data-entity-id="3080" class="process schemaform-process"> <va-process-list> <va-process-list-item><p>Talk to your primary health care provider or your local VA environmental health coordinator about any health concerns related to your military service.</p><p><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp">Find your local VA environmental health coordinator</a></p><ul><li><strong>If you have embedded fragments,</strong> ask about getting an exam through the Toxic Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center.<br><br><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/exposures/TEFSC-veterans-fact-sheet.pdf">Download our Toxic Embedded Fragments fact sheet (PDF)</a><br> </li><li><strong>If you think you had contact with depleted uranium,</strong> ask about getting screened through the Depleted Uranium Follow-up Program.<br><br><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/depleted_uranium/followup_program.asp">Learn more about the Depleted Uranium Follow-up Program</a></li></ul></va-process-list-item> <va-process-list-item><p>Ask about joining the Gulf War Registry to document your exposures and health concerns.</p><p><a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/benefits/registry-exam.asp">Learn about the Gulf War Registry</a></p><p>Depending on your service history, you also may be automatically enrolled in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. </p><p><a href="https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/">Learn more about the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry</a></p><p><strong>Note:</strong> Enrollment in this registry won’t affect your eligibility for VA health care or benefits.<br><a href="/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="91667982-fb65-4bff-91b0-cbc41352a3f1" data-entity-substitution="canonical" hreflang="en" title="The PACT Act and your VA benefits">Learn how the PACT Act may affect your VA benefits and care</a></p><p><a href="https://vethome.va.gov/">Learn more about toxic exposures and registries on our VET-HOME website</a></p></va-process-list-item> <va-process-list-item><p>Find out if you can get disability compensation (monthly payments) and other benefits if you have an illness or injury caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service.</p><p>Find out if you're eligible for compensation based on either of these factors:<br><br><a href="/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/gulf-war-illness-southwest-asia/">Gulf War Illnesses from service in Southwest Asia</a></p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/specific-environmental-hazards" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-uuid="78baf533-d7f7-488a-97cc-8a0a6846564b" title="Exposure to burn pits and other specific environmental hazards">Exposure to burn pits or other specific environmental hazards</a></p></va-process-list-item> </va-process-list> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="usa-content"> <aside class="va-nav-linkslist va-nav-linkslist--related"> <section data-template="paragraphs/list_of_link_teasers" data-entity-id="3071" class="field_related_links"> <h2 id="more-information-about-your-be" class="va-nav-linkslist-heading" tabindex="-1"> More information about your benefits </h2> <ul class="va-nav-linkslist-list"> <li data-template="paragraphs/linkTeaser" data-entity-id="3072" data-links-list-header="About VA health care coverage" data-links-list-section-header="More information about your benefits"> <h3 class="va-nav-linkslist-title vads-u-font-size--h4" id> <va-link href="/health-care/about-va-health-benefits" text="About VA health care coverage"> </va-link></h3> <p class="va-nav-linkslist-description">Learn more about your VA health care benefits, your health care team, and where you’ll go for care.</p> </li> <li data-template="paragraphs/linkTeaser" data-entity-id="3073" data-links-list-header="Health care benefits eligibility" data-links-list-section-header="More information about your benefits"> <h3 class="va-nav-linkslist-title vads-u-font-size--h4" id="-1"> <va-link href="/health-care/eligibility" text="Health care benefits eligibility"> </va-link></h3> <p class="va-nav-linkslist-description">Not sure if you qualify? Find out if you can get VA health care benefits.</p> </li> <li data-template="paragraphs/linkTeaser" data-entity-id="3074" data-links-list-header="How to apply for health care benefits" data-links-list-section-header="More information about your benefits"> <h3 class="va-nav-linkslist-title vads-u-font-size--h4" id="-2"> <va-link href="/health-care/how-to-apply" text="How to apply for health care benefits"> </va-link></h3> <p class="va-nav-linkslist-description">Ready to apply? Get started now.</p> </li> </ul> </section> </aside> </div> </div> <va-back-to-top></va-back-to-top>  <div class="last-updated usa-content vads-u-padding-x--1 desktop-lg:vads-u-padding-x--0"> <div class="mobile-lg:vads-u-display--flex above-footer-elements-container"> <div class="vads-u-flex--auto"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--justify"> <p>Last updated: <time datetime="2024-09-20">September 20, 2024</time></p> </span> </div> <div class="vads-u-flex--1 vads-u-text-align--right"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--right"> <button type="button" class="feedback-button usa-button" id="mdFormButton" aria-label="give feedback"> Feedback </button> </span> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div></main> </div> </div>  <script nonce="7SjDQMymecCn2MoxnNcZd5MCzy9qqx2Q" type="text/javascript" defer src="https://www.datadoghq-browser-agent.com/datadog-rum-v5.js"></script> <script nonce="7SjDQMymecCn2MoxnNcZd5MCzy9qqx2Q" type="text/javascript"> window.addEventListener('load', () => { // All of the page urls we want to monitor include www.va.gov (production only) if (window.DD_RUM && window.location?.hostname === 'www.va.gov') { /** * Unauthenticated Static pages may be crawled by bots, so we won't initialize * RUM sessions. 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Iraq War Veterans Health Issues | Veterans Affairs