Radiation
There are two broad types of radiation, non-ionizing and ionizing. Ionizing radiation sends out extremely high energy, which may pose a health risk.
Ionizing radiation exposure comes from a variety of sources, including nuclear weapons testing or other activities during military service.
VA offers a free Ionizing Radiation Registry health exam to all eligible Veterans to alert them to possible long-term health problems.
Related Diseases
Find out what diseases are related to radiation exposure.
VA Benefits
View benefits for Veterans exposed to radiation and their survivors.
Provider Resources
VA has resources to help providers care for Veterans.
Radiation
Energy given off from a source with enough energy, so that during an interaction with an atom, it can remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom to become charged or ionized.
Most radiation concerns related to military service involve this type of radiation
A variety of activities associated with military service, including nuclear weapons handling and detonation, weapons and other military equipment made with depleted uranium, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, and x-rays, and persons monitored for occupational radiation exposure. For detailed information about specific exposure events, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/sources/index.asp.
- Ionizing radiation is high-energy radiation that may pose minimal health risks such as skin redness, burns, or hair loss risk. High doses can lead to more serious outcomes, such as cancers.
- Non-ionizing radiation is low-energy radiation that includes radiation from sources such as sunlight, microwaves, radio frequencies, radar and sonar. Most radiation of this type poses very minimal health risk.
- Radiation webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/index.asp
- ATSDR – Ionizing Radiation FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts149.pdf
- For the most up-to-date information on exposure to radiation, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/sources/index.asp.
- Radiation webpage
- Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
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.
Radiation Presumption
- Veterans who served at certain locations are presumed to have been exposed to radiation.
- Radiological cleanup of Enewetak Atoll (1977- 1980).
- U.S. Air Force plutonium cleanup mission near Palomares, Spain (1966).
- U.S. Air Force plutonium cleanup mission at Thule, Greenland (1968).
- Participated in the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan between Aug. 6, 1945, and July 1, 1946.
- Wre prisoners of war in Japan near Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
- Participated in atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted primarily in Nevada and the Pacific Ocean between 1945 and 1962.
- Participated in underground nuclear weapons testing at:
- Amchitka Island, Alaska before Jan. 1, 1974.
- Nevada Test Site for at least 250 days from January 1, 1963, through December 31, 1992.
- Service at one of the following gaseous diffusion plants for at least 250 days before Feb. 1, 1992: Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; or K25 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- For 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.
- Cancers of the bile ducts, bone, brain, breast, colon, esophagus, gall bladder, liver (primary site, but not if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated), lung (including bronchiolo-alveolar cancer), pancreas, pharynx, ovary, salivary gland, small intestine, stomach, thyroid, urinary tract (kidney/renal, pelvis, urinary bladder, and urethra)
- Leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
- Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease)
- Multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells)
- Case-by-Case Review for Radiation-Associated Conditions: If a Veteran who was exposed to radiation during military service develops one of the diseases listed below and meets other requirements, disability compensation may be provided on a case-by-case basis.
- All cancers
- Non-malignant thyroid nodular disease
- Parathyroid adenoma
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts
- Tumors of the brain and central nervous system
- Other diseases, if supported by medical or scientific evidence
- 1945 1992 World War II USA, East Asia
Case-by-Case Review for Radiation-Associated Conditions
If a Veteran who was exposed to radiation during military service develops one of the diseases listed below and meets other requirements, disability compensation may be provided on a case-by-case basis.
- All cancers
- Non-malignant thyroid nodular disease
- Parathyroid adenoma
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts
- Tumors of the brain and central nervous system
- Other diseases, if supported by medical or scientific evidence
1900 2100 All Conflicts All Locations
Radiation Healthcare Eligibility
Under Public Law 104-262, The Veterans Health Reform Act, veterans exposed to radiation-risk activities seeking care for conditions associated with their exposure to ionizing radiation are included in Priority Group 6. Care is provided for these radiation-related conditions without regard to the veteran's age, service-connected status or ability to defray the cost of medical care, and no co-payment by the veteran is required.
1945 1992 World War II USA, East Asia
Ionizing Radiation Registry
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/benefits/registry-exam.asp
Ionizing Radiation Registry screens Veterans for possible long-term health problems related to ionizing radiation exposure. Veterans who meet any of the following criteria are eligible:
- On-site participation in a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device, whether or not the testing nation was the United States
- Participation in the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki from August 6, 1945 through July 1, 1946
- Internment as a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II
- Receipt of nasopharyngeal (NP) - nose and throat-radium irradiation treatments while in the active military, naval, or air service
- Service at Department of Energy gaseous diffusion plants at Paducah, KY, Portsmouth, OH, or the K25 area at Oak Ridge, TN, for at least 250 days before February 1, 1992 under certain conditions
- Proximity to \"Longshot,\" \"Milrow,\" or \"Cannikin\" underground nuclear tests at Amchitka Island, AK, before January 1, 1974
- For more information, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/benefits/registry-exam.asp
1900 2100 World War II, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Operation Joint Endeavor (OJE), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) All Locations
Operation Tomodachi Registry
- https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
Registry is operated by the Department of Defense (DoD) and provides radiation dose information for service members and Veterans, family members, and other DoD affiliated personnel who may have been exposed to radiation in Japan following the tsunami and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor accident from March 11, 2011 to May 11, 2011. This registry is not owned or operated by VA, but VA was consulted during its formation.
For more information, visit: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/radiation/sources/fukushima.asp
2011 2011 East Asia
