VA Presumptive Conditions for Atomic Veterans

Atomic veterans are those veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation from waste, weapons, or equipment while in the military. (More recently referred to as “Nuclear Veterans”) If you served in an area that had radioactive materials and developed symptoms of radiation-related illnesses, you may be considered an atomic veteran eligible for VA disability benefits.

In presumptive cases, the VA already acknowledges that certain disabilities are service connected if you can prove that you were in a specific place during a given time. If you have one or more presumptive conditions, you do not have to prove they were caused or aggravated by your time in the military with a medical nexus.

VA radiation exposure presumptives include:

Cancers of the bile ducts, bone, brain, breast, colon, esophagus, gall bladder, pancreas, pharynx, ovary, salivary gland, small intestine, stomach, or thyroid
Liver cancer (primary site, but not if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated)
Lung cancer (including bronchiolo-alveolar cancer)
Urinary tract cancer (kidney/renal, pelvis, urinary bladder, and urethra)
Leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease)
Multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells)

Nonpresumptive conditions are other diseases associated with ionizing radiation exposure and possibly caused by that exposure, but without an automatic presumed link. The VA considers these on a case-by-case basis and need supporting medical evidence to prove they are service connected.

The list of other diseases associated with ionizing radiation exposure:

All cancers
Non-malignant thyroid nodular disease
Parathyroid adenoma
Posterior subcapsular cataracts
Tumors of the brain and central nervous system

If you are unable to work due to your service-connected disabilities, you may qualify for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). If you think you may be eligible for TDIU or believe your current rating is too low, give us a call and receive a free legal consultation.

We have helped thousands of veterans all over the United States and we only charge a fee if we win your case.

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Woods and Woods, LLC
The Veteran’s Firm
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