Heat Injuries
Veterans serving in hot, desert climates, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, may have suffered from heat injuries. These heat injuries include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and sunburn.
Heat stroke is a serious illness that occurs when the body is unable to control its own temperature.
Heat exhaustion is an illness caused by dehydration and salt loss, and can lead to heat stroke.
Sunburn occurs when skin is overexposed to ultraviolet radiation.
Health problems related to heat injuries
Veterans who have suffered from heat injuries during military service may be more susceptible to heat and more serious heat injuries in the future.
Health concerns?
If you are concerned about health problems associated with heat injuries during military service, talk to your health care provider or contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator to help you get more information from a health care provider.
VA offers a variety of health care benefits to eligible Veterans. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? Find out if you qualify for VA health care.
Compensation benefits for health problems
Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to heat exposure during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. File a claim online.
Learn more about VA benefits.
Extreme Heat
Health problems that could be caused by extremely hot temperatures.
Veterans serving in hot, desert climates may have suffered from heat injuries.
Africa, Southwest Asia, South-Central Asia
Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND), World War II
Common Conditions
- Heat stroke is a serious illness that occurs when the body is unable to control its own temperature.
- Heat exhaustion is an illness caused by dehydration and salt loss, and can lead to heat stroke.
- Sunburn occurs when skin is overexposed to ultraviolet radiation.
Veterans who have suffered from heat injuries during military service may be more susceptible to heat and more serious heat injuries in the future.
- Heat Injuries webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/heat-injuries/index.asp
- CDC - Fact Sheet
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-174/pdfs/2011-174.pdf
- APHC - Heat Illness Fact Sheet
- https://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/disease-epi-heat-illness-factsheet.pdf
Get a Registry Evaluation
- Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
- Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) Team
- https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp
Contact your local https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp, or VA Primary Care Team about getting a registry evaluation.
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.
