People who serve in the military and veterans face some different health issues than civilians. During wartime, the main health concerns are life-threatening injuries. These include shrapnel and gunshot wounds, lost limbs, and head injuries. Some service members might also have health problems from exposure to environmental hazards, such as contaminated water, chemicals and infections.
Service members and veterans are at risk for mental health problems, too. These include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance abuse.
- Military and Veterans Health Care(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_im.asp?id=755&imID=1&parentID=61
- MyHealtheVet(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.myhealth.va.gov/
- Combat Duty Harms Long-Term Health of Vets(04/24/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83358.html
- Agent Orange Exposure Tied to Prostate Cancer Return(04/23/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83299.html
- Poor Health Linked to PTSD Risk Among Vets(04/17/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83053.html
- More News on Veterans and Military Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_v.html#veteransandmilitaryhealth
- FDA Clears Critical Limb-Saving Vascular Device(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01559.html
- Specialized Care Programs (SCP)(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - http://www.pdhealth.mil/clinicians/scp_program.asp
- Adjusting to War Memories(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s101_0000
- Balancing Your Life(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s112_0000
- Controlling Alcohol and Drugs(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s108_0000
- Coping with Traumatic Stress Reactions(National Center for PTSD) - http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_coping_stress.html
- Dealing with Depression(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s102_0000
- Handling Stress(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s103_0000
- Improving Relationships(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s104_0000
- Living with Physical Injuries(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s111_0000
- Overcoming Anger(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s106_0000
- Sleeping Better(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s107_0000
- Succeeding at Work(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s105_0000
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Agent Orange: Information for Veterans Who Served in Vietnam(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - Links to PDF - http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/AOIB10-49JUL03.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/SpanishinfobulletinAO1049Mar04.pdf
- Depleted Uranium: Information for Service Members and Their Families(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - Links to PDF - http://www.pdhealth.mil/downloads/DU_Service_Members_Info_09172004.pdf
- Deployment Health and Family Readiness Library(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.osd.mil/home.jsp
- Frequently Asked Questions(Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center) - http://www.dvbic.org/faq.php
- Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: Questions & Answers(Veterans Health Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/GWIllnessesQandAsIB1041.pdf
- GulfLINK(Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses) - http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/
- Health Care and Assistance for U.S. Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - Links to PDF - http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/IraqiFreedomMay21.pdf
- Men and Women Veterans: Know the Warning Signs of Suicide(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information) - Links to PDF - http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/VA07-SPBRO.pdf
- Project 112 / SHAD - Shipboard Hazard and Defense(Force Health Protection & Readiness) - http://fhp.osd.mil/CBexposures/shad.jsp
- Specific Concerns and Conditions (Related to Deployment Health)(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - http://www.pdhealth.mil/hcc/scc.asp
- Veterans and Military Health Topics(Force Health Protection & Readiness) - http://fhp.osd.mil/factsheets.jsp
- Deployment Tips(American Red Cross) - http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d8aaecf214c576bf971e4cfe43181aa0/?vgnextoid=b269af3fbac3b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
- DoD Mental Health Self-Assessment (MHSA) Program(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - http://www.pdhealth.mil/mhsa.asp
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Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents: 2008 Edition(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - Large PDF file - http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/Fedben.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedbensp.pdf
- Health Care Eligibility and Enrollment for Veterans(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/
- Healthy Parenting Initiative (Military Parents)(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_1?section_id=20.40.500.420.0.0.0.0.0¤t_id=20.40.500.420.500.70.0.0.0
- Help for Homeless Veterans(National Coalition for Homeless Veterans) - http://www.nchv.org/veterans.cfm
- How Terroristic Acts May Affect Veterans(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_veterans_disaster.html
- Influenza (Flu)(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/
- MOVE! National Weight Management Program for Veterans(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.move.va.gov/
- Readjustment Counseling(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/Vet_Center_Services.asp
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Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Military Personnel(National Center for PTSD) - Large PDF file - http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/GuideforMilitary.pdf
- Soldier and Family Guide to Redeploying(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - Links to PDF - http://www.pdhealth.mil/library/downloads/RedeploymentFamilyTrifold.pdf
- TRICARE Dental Program(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=320
- TRICARE Vision Benefits(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Vision?
- TRICARE: Skilled Nursing Facility and Long-Term Care(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=258
- VA Health Care Eligibility(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp
- Veterans and Their Families: A SAMHSA Priority(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.samhsa.gov/SAMHSA_News/VolumeXVI_1/article1.htm
- What is TRICARE?(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/WhatIsTRICARE
- Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury(Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center) - http://www.dvbic.org/education.php
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Wounds Within(Dept. of Defense) - http://pentagontv.feedroom.com/?fr_story=75ff50666b3f1f51ae078051677bac337021697a&rf=rss
- Copays and Charges(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/costs/
- Covered Services(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/
- Disability Compensation - 2007 Rates(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/page.cfm?pg=57
- Medicare and TRICARE Entitlements(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=356
- What Happens to My Benefit When I Retire(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=347
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Persian Gulf Syndrome
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Persian+Gulf+Syndrome%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Veterans(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Veterans%22
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TRICARE Beneficiaries Can Enter Clinical Trials for Cancer Prevention and Treatment through a Department of Defense and National Cancer Institute Agreement(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/TRICARE
- Co-Payment Increases Result in Gaps in Veterans' Prescription Usage(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=634
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Combat Veterans May Have Poorer Long-Term Quality of Life Than Non-Combat Veterans(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=717
- Education, Simple Measures Keys to Improving Vets' Hypertension Care(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=407
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Care of war veterans with mild traumatic brain injury--flawed perspectives. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19369664&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Impact of age and comorbidity on colorectal cancer screening among... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19349631&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Summaries for patients. How do age and comorbidity affect the... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19349627&tool=MedlinePlus
- Veterans and Military Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(veterans[majr]+NOT+persian+gulf+syndrome[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Agent orange -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=agent+orange[substance+name]+OR+tetrachlorodibenzodioxin[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+veterans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+5+Years&tool=MedlinePlus
- Gulf war syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=persian+gulf+syndrome[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+2+Years&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary & Acronyms(Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center) - http://www.pdhealth.mil/acronyms.asp
- Veteran's Health Benefits Eligibility: Glossary(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/Glossary/
- Facilities Locator & Directory(Veterans Health Administration) - http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
- Find a Provider: TRICARE Provider Directories(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Medical/FindingAProvider
- Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.samhsa.gov/vets/
- TRICARE Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) Locator(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/mtf/
- VA Programs and Services State Summary Fact Sheets(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/statesum/index.asp
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Veterans Resource Guide: Getting Help Is Easier Than Ever Before(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/Veterans_Resource_Guide_Flyer.pdf
- Center for Women Veterans - http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/
- Dept. of Defense, Deployment Health Clinical Center - http://www.pdhealth.mil/
- Dept. of Veterans Affairs - http://www.va.gov/
- House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - http://veterans.house.gov/
- National Center for PTSD - http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/
- Agent Orange Review(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/page.cfm?pg=16
- Agent Orange: VA Disability Compensation Claims Processing(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/page.cfm?pg=11
- TRICARE and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003(Social Security Administration) - http://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/tricare.html
- Major Depressive Episode and Treatment for Depression among Veterans Aged 21 to 39(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/veteransDepressed/veteransDepressed.htm
- Male Veterans with Co-Occurring Serious Mental Illness and a Substance Use Disorder(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/vetsDualDX/vetsDualDX.htm
- New Number of Homeless Vets Announced(National Coalition for Homeless Veterans) - http://www.nchv.org/news_article.cfm?id=353
- VA Benefits and Health Care Utilization(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - Links to PDF - http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4X6_spring08_sharepoint.pdf
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MedlinePlus: Women's Health(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/womenshealth.html
- Military Sexual Trauma(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/trauma.asp
- TRICARE Maternity Care(TRICARE Management Activity) - http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=261
- Women Veterans Health Care: Frequently Asked Questions(Veterans Health Administration) - http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/faqs.asp
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
- Veterans and Military Family Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/veteransandmilitaryfamilyhealth.html
- Health System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthsystem.html
- Population Groups - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/populationgroups.html
My HealtheVet, the Gateway to Veteran Health and Wellness - http://www.myhealthyvet.va.gov
TRICARE is the healthcare program for active duty and retired service personnel, their eligible family members and survivors - http://www.tricare.mil