If you’re an Iraq War veteran suffering from an injury or health condition caused by your service, you may be eligible for Iraq veterans benefits.
The VA recognizes several health conditions as presumptive conditions of Iraq War service, making it easier to get the benefits you deserve.
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In this article we list some of the most common health conditions Iraq veterans experience, and discuss the eligibility requirements for a presumptive service connection.
In this article about Iraq veterans benefits:
Who are Iraq War veterans?
An Iraq War veteran is anyone that served active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND), between early 2003 and late 2011.
According to the VA, Iraq war veterans may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials during service in Iraq. These exposures put many Iraq veterans at risk of developing certain physical and mental health conditions later in life.
They may have also faced combat and explosions, which can significantly increase the risk of developing a service-connected injury.
Fortunately, there are Iraq veterans benefits available to eligible veterans with one or more service-connected conditions.
Common conditions among Iraq War veterans
Iraq War veterans may suffer lasting effects from exposure to any of these during service:
- Respiratory conditions, caused by breathing in sand, dust, and fine particulates in the air
- Kidney problems, caused by exposure to depleted uranium
- Reactive airways disease (RAD), caused by sulfur fires
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI), from a blast or explosion
- Mental health conditions like PTSD and anxiety, from combat or other traumatic events
- Hearing loss or tinnitus, caused by loud noises like gunfire, rockets, jets, heavy machinery, and more
Iraq veterans may also be more likely to develop the following health complications:
- Infectious diseases including malaria, West Nile Virus, and brucellosis
- Rabies
- Musculoskeletal injuries which may lead to long-term health problems
These lists are not meant to be exhaustive. Regardless of your health condition, if you can provide evidence showing it is tied to your service in Iraq, you have the right to seek VA disability compensation.
Iraq War and PTSD
PTSD is a major concern for all veterans, but is particularly prevalent among Iraq veterans. For many veterans of the Iraq War, the trauma and negative memories from the stressors of combat have not gone away. According to a VA study, 29% of Iraq veterans have had PTSD at some point in their life. This number is higher than the PTSD data for Vietnam, Desert Storm, or WWII veterans.
PTSD doesn’t always develop immediately following a traumatic event, but can develop over time.
Symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Avoidance of reminders of your trauma
- Intrusive thoughts, dreams, and memories
- Feeling detached from family and friends
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Being easily startled
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Self-destructive behavior
If your PTSD was caused or worsened by military service, you can apply for a PTSD VA rating. Mental health disorders can be rated at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%, depending on how severe your symptoms are and how often you experience them.
Iraq presumptive conditions
While veterans can apply for VA disability for any service-connected condition, there are certain health conditions the VA will automatically assume were caused by your military service in Iraq. These are called presumptive conditions. In presumptive cases, the VA acknowledges that certain disabilities are service connected if you can show that you served in a specific place during a given time period.
If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.
Burn pit Iraq presumptive conditions
Some of the most common presumptive conditions among Iraq War veterans come from exposure to burn pits during service. Burn pits were used widely at military sites in Iraq as well as Afghanistan.
VA disability lawyer Lori Underwood said, “These burn pit areas on the military base were used to burn a lot, many different sources of trash, including toxic waste, which contaminated the air, providing the toxins in the air quality for our veterans. They were large. They were visibly dirty. Most veterans are aware if they’ve been exposed to burn pits. Some of the things that they burned were paint, electronics, and rubber. The list goes on and on.”
If you’re a veteran that served in Iraq on or after August 2, 1990, the VA assumes you were exposed to burn pits. If you meet those time and place requirements, and you develop any condition from the list below, you would be eligible for Iraq veterans benefits on a presumptive basis. This list is not exhaustive.
| Types of Cancer | Other Diseases |
|---|---|
| Adenocarcinoma of the trachea | Asthma that was diagnosed after service |
| Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung | Chronic bronchitis |
| Bladder cancer | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
| Brain cancer | Chronic rhinitis |
| Breast cancer (male or female) | Chronic sinusitis |
| Gastrointestinal cancer of any type | Constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis |
| Glioblastoma | Emphysema |
| Head cancer of any type | Granulomatous disease |
| Kidney cancer | Interstitial lung disease |
| Large cell carcinoma of the lung | Pleuritis |
| Lymphatic cancer of any type | Pulmonary fibrosis |
| Lymphoma of any type | Sarcoidosis |
| Melanoma | |
| Neck cancer of any type | |
| Pancreatic cancer | |
| Reproductive cancer of any type | |
| Respiratory cancer of any type | |
| Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung | |
| Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea | |
| Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung | |
| Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx | |
| Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea | |
| Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung | |
| Ureter cancer | |
| Urethral cancer and cancer of the paraurethral glands |
Gulf War presumptive conditions
A Gulf War veteran is anyone who served in specific locations in Southeast Asia, including Iraq, from Aug. 2, 1990 to the present.
Gulf War Illness, or Gulf War syndrome, is a name given to various chronic, unexplained symptoms suffered by Gulf War veterans. Some of these symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, GI issues, and sleep problems, among many others.
Iraq veterans who meet the criteria do not need to prove a connection between their military service and illnesses in order to receive VA disability compensation.
The VA provides disability compensation for Gulf War Syndrome on a presumptive basis if your illness meets the criteria below:
- Your chronic, unexplained symptoms exist for 6 months or more, AND
- Your illness appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2026, AND
- The illness is at least 10% disabling
Additionally, if you are a Gulf War veteran who served in Iraq since Aug. 2, 1990, and now have any of the conditions listed below, you should also be eligible for presumptive benefits:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome
Presumptive infectious diseases
Iraq and other Gulf War veterans are also more likely to become infected with several diseases linked to the unique conditions of their service.
The VA recognizes nine infectious illnesses as being related to Gulf War veterans’ military service. Iraq veterans who develop these illnesses qualify for presumptive VA disability benefits.
Infectious illnesses that are presumptive if they are diagnosed within a year of service include:
- Brucellosis
- Malaria
- West Nile Virus
- Shigella
- Coxiella burnetii
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Nontyphoid Salmonella
Infectious illnesses that are presumptive when diagnosed any time after separation include:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Visceral leishmaniasis
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The list of presumptive service connections for Iraq War veterans includes conditions from exposure to burn pits, those related to Gulf War Syndrome, and several infectious diseases. To qualify for a presumptive service connection, Iraq veterans must meet time and place requirements as well as have a condition rated at least 10% disabling.
To apply for Iraq veterans benefits, fill out an application for disability benefits, and collect the appropriate evidence to support your claim.
If you have one of the many conditions that are presumptive for Iraq veterans, you will not need to prove your condition is service connected.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
