You can enroll in VA health care if any of the following are true:

1. You performed active duty while assigned to a duty station (including air space above) in the following time periods and locations:

• On or after August 2, 1990, in the following countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates
• On or after September 11, 2001, in the following countries: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, or any other country determined relevant by VA. (Note: VA has not determined any other country relevant at this time.)·

2. You deployed in support of the following contingency operations:

• Operation Enduring Freedom
• Operation Freedom’s Sentinel
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Operation New Dawn
• Operation Inherent Resolve
• Resolute Support Mission

3. You served on active duty in a theater of combat operations or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, and you were discharged or released from active service within the last 10 years.

Veterans who don’t meet any of the above requirements but were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving our country are also eligible to enroll in VA health care. This includes air pollutants, chemicals, occupational hazards, radiation, warfare agents, and more. Visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/ to learn more.

NOTE: Even if you don’t meet these eligibility standards, you may well still be eligible for VA health care. We encourage you to call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more.

Gulf War Veterans health issues

If you served in the Gulf War in Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm or another operation anytime after August 2, 1990, you may be at risk of certain health conditions. Learn about these conditions and what to do next to take care of your health.

What health risks should I know about related to my service in the Gulf War?

You may be at risk of:

Health problems caused by toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials in the environment, like:

• Sand, dust, and particulates: Tiny matter found in the air
• Depleted uranium: Uranium used in military tank armor and some bullets
• Oil well fires: Oil or gas wells that caught on fire and burned
• Chemical and biological weapons (Khamisiyah, Iraq): Chemicals released into the atmosphere from the demolition of a munitions storage depot in Khamisiyah, Iraq
• Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) paint: A paint used on military vehicles to resist corrosion and chemical agents
• Pesticides: Substances used to repel or destroy pests such as insects and pathogens

Illnesses and injuries caused by:

Extreme heat: Health problems (like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and sunburn) that can be caused by serving in hot desert climates

Toxic embedded fragments: 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

Noise: 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)

Infectious diseases: 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.

Occupational (job-related) hazards: Chemicals, paints, radiation, and other hazards you may have come in contact with through your military job

Possible side effects of:

Vaccinations: Vaccines given to help prevent infectious diseases as well as anthrax and botulinum toxoid. These vaccines are being studied as one possible cause of chronic multi-symptom illnesses in Gulf War Veterans.

Pyridostigmine bromide (PB): An anti-nerve agent pill used as a pretreatment to protect military personnel in the event of an attack with the nerve agent soman. So far, research shows that there’s no evidence to link PB to multi-symptom illnesses in Gulf War Veterans, but we continue to monitor these Veterans’ health issues.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE GULF WAR ILLNESSES LINKED TO SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE:

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/gulf-war-illness-southwest-asia/

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE GULF WAR ILLNESSES LINKED TO AFGHANISTAN SERVICE:

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/gulf-war-illness-afghanistan/