Public Health
Radiation exposure and the Ionizing Radiation Registry
We are all exposed to radiation in our daily lives. About half of this exposure comes from natural background sources such as the air, cosmic rays, and the Earth, and the other half comes from man-made sources like x-rays and televisions. Research shows that the average American dose of radiation does not cause harm in humans.
As a Veteran, you may be concerned about past exposure to man-made radiation sources during your service beyond the usual background exposure, such as Department of Defense-run nuclear reactors, weapons, and radiation in health care settings. Veterans exposed to radiation from specific military sources may be eligible for VA’s Ionizing Radiation Registry.
Eligibility for this registry is defined by law and includes Veterans with the following military experiences:
- On-site participation in a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device, regardless of the nation conducting the testing
- Participation in the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki (August 6, 1945 - July 1, 1946)
- Internment as a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II
- Receipt of nasopharyngeal (nose and throat) radium irradiation treatments while in the active military, naval, or air service
- Involvement in the following "radiation-risk activities":
- 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
If you are concerned about radiation exposure during your military career but your service falls outside the Ionizing Radiation Registry eligibility criteria, it does not in any way negate your service or exposures. VA’s registries are primarily used for research and are not connected in any way with VA’s disability compensation process.
Veterans who want to be considered for disability compensation for exposure-related health problems must file a claim for disability compensation. An Ionizing Radiation Registry exam is not necessary or relevant when filing a claim. A pension and compensation examiner would find exposure records, dose reconstructions, and history valuable to review. During the claims process, VA will check military records to confirm exposure to ionizing radiation. If necessary, VA will set up a separate exam for compensation.
