While the U.S. stopped testing nuclear weapons above ground in 1962, many Veterans today—known as “Atomic Veterans”—still deal with lingering effects that come with exposure to radiation (like cancer and other adverse health effects). Essentially, Atomic Veterans are troops who were stationed as ground troops or POWs near the detonation sites in Hiroshima and Nagasaki or participants in above ground nuclear tests conducted from 1945 to 1962 in the Pacific Ocean and southwest U.S.

So why are we talking about this now? Because some conditions (mostly cancers) are considered “presumptive conditions” for Atomic Veterans and just establishing that you participated in one of these situations makes an “atomic Veteran” eligible for compensation. For non-presumptive conditions, the key to getting compensation (and treatment, if not otherwise eligible for care) from VA lies in establishing the amount of radiation to which a Veteran was exposed. To that end, if you were involved, there are several resources you should know about.

First, VA is encouraging all Atomic Veterans to check out the new website for the Veterans’ Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR). And second, be aware that VA offers an evaluation, known as the Ionizing Radiation Registry (IRR), free of charge to all eligible  “Atomic Veterans”. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to be eligible. You can find information on our Radiation page created by the Office of Public Health and environmental hazards.


Jim Benson iPhoto of Jim Bensons a U.S. Air Force Veteran and works for VA’s Office of Public Affairs.

 

 

 

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3 Comments

  1. Carol E. Fox April 13, 2011 at 03:05

    A Veteran, A Hero , A Victim http://youtu.be/Jlk7Tv05ucE Please watch and pass to every one you know…my brother, Retired Lt. Commander, Edward J Baker thank you, Carol E Fox

  2. Sherry Atkinson April 12, 2011 at 15:11

    What about those people that were expose to the fallout of Chernobyl???

  3. Robert Hellyer April 7, 2011 at 23:04

    I know it’s a long shot but I worked with a Jim Benson at Sheppard AFB in the late 60’s. Were you there then, or was that someone else?

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