Veterans & Military Resources

Serving those who served — resources for veterans and active-duty service members navigating invisible illnesses, VA benefits, and disability claims

1.2M

Veterans Affected by invisible illness

10-100%

VA Disability rating range

250K+

Gulf War Illness affected veterans

High Risk

Tick Exposure at military bases

Military-Related Invisible Illness

Military service exposes veterans to unique risk factors for invisible illnesses. From tick-infested training areas to toxic burn pits, these exposures can trigger chronic conditions that persist long after separation from service.

VA Benefits & Disability Claims

VA Healthcare Access

Service-Connected Conditions

Overview of invisible illness conditions and their VA disability claim requirements. Presumptive status means no nexus letter is required if service criteria are met.

Condition	Presumptive?	Evidence Required	Avg Rating
Lyme Disease	No	In-service medical records, duty station near endemic area, buddy statements documenting tick exposure or symptoms during service	30-60%
Gulf War Illness	Yes	Service in Southwest Asia theater of operations (Aug 1990-present), qualifying chronic disability manifested to 10%+ degree	40-80%
Fibromyalgia	Yes (Gulf War)	Medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, widespread musculoskeletal pain, tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance	20-40%
ME/CFS	No	Nexus letter from qualified physician linking condition to service, continuous treatment records, functional capacity documentation	40-100%

Ratings can be combined. Veterans with multiple service-connected conditions receive a combined rating using VA math (not simple addition). A veteran with Lyme at 30%, PTSD at 50%, and fibromyalgia at 20% would receive a combined rating higher than any single condition.

Burn Pit Registry & PACT Act

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is the most significant expansion of VA healthcare and benefits for toxic-exposed veterans in decades.

Toxic Exposure Screening

All enrolled veterans now receive toxic exposure screening at VA healthcare visits
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry tracks exposure history
Registry participation supports future claims and research
Register online at VA.gov/AHOBPR or at any VA facility

Eligibility Expansion

Post-9/11 combat veterans eligible for 10 years of VA healthcare (up from 5)
23 new presumptive conditions for burn pit and toxic exposure
Camp Lejeune veterans: 15+ presumptive conditions from contaminated water
Vietnam-era Agent Orange presumptive list expanded to additional locations

New Presumptive Conditions (Selected)

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic rhinitis

Chronic laryngitis

Chronic bronchitis

COPD

Pulmonary fibrosis

Constrictive bronchiolitis

Sarcoidosis

Lung cancer (any type)

Head/neck cancers

Pancreatic cancer

Kidney cancer

Veteran-Specific Support Organizations

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

VSO

Free claims assistance from trained National Service Officers. DAV helps file initial claims, appeals, and represents veterans at BVA hearings. Over 1 million members.

1-877-426-2838

dav.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

VSO

Accredited representatives assist with VA disability claims at no cost. VFW also advocates for veteran healthcare policy at the federal level.

1-816-756-3390

vfw.org

Wounded Warrior Project

Nonprofit

Free programs for post-9/11 veterans including mental health services, career counseling, long-term support, and peer mentoring for chronic conditions.

1-888-997-2586

woundedwarriorproject.org

Cohen Veterans Network

Mental Health

Free or low-cost mental health care for post-9/11 veterans, including those dealing with PTSD comorbid with chronic illness. No VA referral needed.

1-833-VET-TALK

cohenveteransnetwork.org

Accredited VSO Representatives

Claims Help

VA-accredited representatives from organizations like American Legion, AMVETS, and VVA provide free claims assistance. Find accredited reps at VA.gov/vso.

VA.gov/vso

va.gov/vso

Buddy Statements & Evidence Gathering

Strong evidence is the foundation of a successful VA disability claim. For invisible illnesses without clear diagnostic markers, buddy statements, nexus letters, and detailed service records are critical to establishing service connection.

Work with an accredited VSO. Organizations like DAV and VFW provide free, trained representatives who know exactly what evidence VA raters look for. They can review your buddy statements and nexus letters before submission to maximize your claim’s strength.

Explore Related Modules

Disability Guide

SSDI/SSI & legal protections

Insurance Navigator

Coverage & appeals guide

Mental Health

Emotional wellness & coping

Support Groups

Community support directory

Data Sources (6)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Annual Benefits Report — Compensation. 2025.
VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. Gulf War Illness Research Strategic Plan. 2025.
U.S. Congress — Public Law 117-168. PACT Act Section-by-Section Summary. 2022.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Tick-Borne Disease Working Group Report to Congress. 2024.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors. 2026.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Military Exposures and Health Outcomes — IOM Reports. 2025.

Veterans & Military Resources

Serving those who served — resources for veterans and active-duty service members navigating invisible illnesses, VA benefits, and disability claims

1.2M

Veterans Affected by invisible illness

10-100%

VA Disability rating range

250K+

Gulf War Illness affected veterans

High Risk

Tick Exposure at military bases

Military-Related Invisible Illness

VA Benefits & Disability Claims

VA Healthcare Access

Service-Connected Conditions

Overview of invisible illness conditions and their VA disability claim requirements. Presumptive status means no nexus letter is required if service criteria are met.

Condition	Presumptive?	Evidence Required	Avg Rating
Lyme Disease	No	In-service medical records, duty station near endemic area, buddy statements documenting tick exposure or symptoms during service	30-60%
Gulf War Illness	Yes	Service in Southwest Asia theater of operations (Aug 1990-present), qualifying chronic disability manifested to 10%+ degree	40-80%
Fibromyalgia	Yes (Gulf War)	Medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, widespread musculoskeletal pain, tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance	20-40%
ME/CFS	No	Nexus letter from qualified physician linking condition to service, continuous treatment records, functional capacity documentation	40-100%

Burn Pit Registry & PACT Act

Toxic Exposure Screening

All enrolled veterans now receive toxic exposure screening at VA healthcare visits
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry tracks exposure history
Registry participation supports future claims and research
Register online at VA.gov/AHOBPR or at any VA facility

Eligibility Expansion

Post-9/11 combat veterans eligible for 10 years of VA healthcare (up from 5)
23 new presumptive conditions for burn pit and toxic exposure
Camp Lejeune veterans: 15+ presumptive conditions from contaminated water
Vietnam-era Agent Orange presumptive list expanded to additional locations

New Presumptive Conditions (Selected)

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic rhinitis

Chronic laryngitis

Chronic bronchitis

COPD

Pulmonary fibrosis

Constrictive bronchiolitis

Sarcoidosis

Lung cancer (any type)

Head/neck cancers

Pancreatic cancer

Kidney cancer

Veteran-Specific Support Organizations

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

VSO

Free claims assistance from trained National Service Officers. DAV helps file initial claims, appeals, and represents veterans at BVA hearings. Over 1 million members.

1-877-426-2838

dav.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

VSO

Accredited representatives assist with VA disability claims at no cost. VFW also advocates for veteran healthcare policy at the federal level.

1-816-756-3390

vfw.org

Wounded Warrior Project

Nonprofit

Free programs for post-9/11 veterans including mental health services, career counseling, long-term support, and peer mentoring for chronic conditions.

1-888-997-2586

woundedwarriorproject.org

Cohen Veterans Network

Mental Health

Free or low-cost mental health care for post-9/11 veterans, including those dealing with PTSD comorbid with chronic illness. No VA referral needed.

1-833-VET-TALK

cohenveteransnetwork.org

Accredited VSO Representatives

Claims Help

VA-accredited representatives from organizations like American Legion, AMVETS, and VVA provide free claims assistance. Find accredited reps at VA.gov/vso.

VA.gov/vso

va.gov/vso

Buddy Statements & Evidence Gathering

Explore Related Modules

Disability Guide

SSDI/SSI & legal protections

Insurance Navigator

Coverage & appeals guide

Mental Health

Emotional wellness & coping

Support Groups

Community support directory

Data Sources (6)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Annual Benefits Report — Compensation. 2025.
VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. Gulf War Illness Research Strategic Plan. 2025.
U.S. Congress — Public Law 117-168. PACT Act Section-by-Section Summary. 2022.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Tick-Borne Disease Working Group Report to Congress. 2024.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors. 2026.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Military Exposures and Health Outcomes — IOM Reports. 2025.

Veterans & Military Resources

Tick Exposure at Military Bases

Gulf War Illness & ME/CFS Overlap

PTSD Comorbidity with Chronic Illness

Deployment-Related Exposures

Filing VA Disability Claims for Invisible Illness

Rating Percentages & Compensation

Effective Dates & Back Pay

C&P Exam Preparation

Enrolling in VA Healthcare

Priority Groups for Invisible Illness

Community Care (MISSION Act)

Finding Lyme-Literate VA Providers

Toxic Exposure Screening

Eligibility Expansion

New Presumptive Conditions (Selected)

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Wounded Warrior Project

Cohen Veterans Network

Accredited VSO Representatives

What is a Buddy Statement?

What to Include in a Buddy Letter

Medical Nexus Requirements

Gathering Service Records

Explore Related Modules

Veterans & Military Resources

Tick Exposure at Military Bases

Gulf War Illness & ME/CFS Overlap

PTSD Comorbidity with Chronic Illness

Deployment-Related Exposures

Filing VA Disability Claims for Invisible Illness

Rating Percentages & Compensation

Effective Dates & Back Pay

C&P Exam Preparation

Enrolling in VA Healthcare

Priority Groups for Invisible Illness

Community Care (MISSION Act)

Finding Lyme-Literate VA Providers

Toxic Exposure Screening

Eligibility Expansion

New Presumptive Conditions (Selected)

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Wounded Warrior Project

Cohen Veterans Network

Accredited VSO Representatives

What is a Buddy Statement?

What to Include in a Buddy Letter

Medical Nexus Requirements

Gathering Service Records

Explore Related Modules