|
Atomic Veterans and Radiation-Related Health Issues
The Office of
Public Health and Environmental Hazards develops and reviews policies
and procedures relating to examination and treatment of atomic veterans,
or other veterans exposed to ionizing radiation in service. The
Office also works closely with the Veterans Benefits Administration by
consultation review of some compensation claims cases.
Approximately 195,000 U. S. service members have been
identified as participants in the post-World War II occupation of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan following the atomic bombing of Japan.
In addition, approximately 210,000 mostly military members are confirmed
as participants in U.S. atmospheric nuclear weapons tests between 1945
and 1962 in the United States and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans prior
to the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty. Largely as a result of
epidemiological studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors, exposure to
radiation has been associated with a number of disorders including
leukemia, various cancers and cataracts. VA provides special
priority enrollment for health-care services to "atomic
veterans" for radiation-related conditions. In addition,
these "atomic veterans" are eligible to participate in the VA
ionizing radiation registry examination program.
Of the
estimated 400,000 "Atomic Veterans," 22,000 have participated
in the Ionizing Radiation Registry.
Neil S. Otchin, M.D.
January 2006
IRNEWSLETTER2006.pdf
August 2005
IonizingRadiationNewsletterAug2005.pdf
December 2004
IonizingRadiationNewsletterDec2004.pdf
February 2004
IRADnewsletterFeb04.pdf
Veterans Health Initiative
VHA Handbook 1301.1
Ionizing Radiation Registry Program Procedures
January 24, 2006
IRADHANDBOOK012006.pdf
VHA
Handbook 1303.1
Evaluation Protocol for Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom Veterans with Potential Exposure to Depleted Uranium
September 2, 2004
http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1158
(links to PDF file)
VHA
Handbook 1303.4
Evaluation Protocol for Non-Gulf War Veterans with Potential
Exposure to Depleted Uranium (DU)
September 2, 2004
1303.4hk 209-02-04.pdf
Cold War - Atomic Veterans
http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/coldwar_summary.asp
Ionizing Radiation
Briefs
December 2004
IRADBRIEFS2005.doc
A new fact sheet series designed to
help veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation while in
the military, their families and others who may have concerns
about the possible long-term health consequences of such
exposure. The December 2004 edition is the initial
publication of these fact sheets.
VA
Radiation Programs Information
April 15, 2003
This fact sheet
replaces and updates information previously provided in the September 2002 Fact
Sheet, "VA Programs for Veterans Exposed to Radiation"
2003RadFS.pdf
Nasopharyngeal
Radium Therapy
February 1999
http://www.va.gov/pressrel/99nasrad.htm
2004 Ionizing
Radiation Poster
IRADPOSTER04.pdf
|
