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Summary
Military service members and veterans have made sacrifices to our country, and they face different health issues than civilians. During their service, they are at risk for various injuries. These injuries can happen during combat, while others involve physical stress to the body. Sometimes the injuries are life-threatening or serious enough to cause disability. Others may not be as serious, but can be painful and affect daily life. Specific types of injuries include:
- Shrapnel and gunshot wounds
- Lost limbs
- Head and brain injuries
- Tinnitus and hearing loss, typically from exposure to noise
- Sprains and strains
- Limited range of motion, especially in ankles and knees
There may also be a risk of health problems from exposure to environmental hazards, such as contaminated water, chemicals, infections, and burn pits.
Being in combat and being separated from your family can be stressful. The stress can put service members and veterans at risk for mental health problems. These include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use. Suicide can also be a concern.
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255 (Department of Veterans Affairs)
Related Issues
- COVID-19: Coronavirus Info for the Military (Department of Defense)
- Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors: 2021 PDF (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- For Homeless Veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- How to File a VA Disability Claim (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Rights and Responsibilities of VA Patients and Residents of Community Living Centers (Department of Veterans Affairs)
Specifics
- Agent Orange (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Diseases and Conditions (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Infectious Diseases -- Diseases Related to Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Medically Unexplained Symptoms (Department of Veterans Affairs) - PDF
- Mental Health Concerns: Veterans and Active Duty (NAMI)
- Military Exposures (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Military Sexual Trauma (Department of Veterans Affairs) - PDF
- Military Sexual Trauma (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
-
Traumatic Brain Injury: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
- Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (Department of Veterans Affairs)
Health Check Tools
- Alcohol Use Screening (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Depression Screening: Questionnaire (Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Substance Abuse Screening (Department of Veterans Affairs)
Videos and Tutorials
-
PTSD: National Center for PTSD
(Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Sleep (Defense Health Agency)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Military Personnel
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Persian Gulf Syndrome
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Veterans
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Musculoskeletal Injury Risk in a Military Cadet Population Participating in an...
- Article: Feasibility of Using a Mobile App Supported Executive Function Intervention in...
- Article: Massed vs Intensive Outpatient Prolonged Exposure for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:...
- Veterans and Military Health -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Find a Doctor (Defense Health Agency)
- Psychological Health Center of Excellence (Defense Health Agency)
Women
- Abuse, Trauma, and Mental Health (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
- Center for Women Veterans
- Women Veterans Health Care: Frequently Asked Questions (Veterans Health Administration)
- Women Veterans Health Care: Military Sexual Trauma (Department of Veterans Affairs)