Common Afghanistan War Disabilities

Types of Exposure During the Afghanistan War

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a public health report about the risks of exposure that Afghanistan War veterans may have experienced during Operation Enduring Freedom. These exposures may cause severe, long-term health problems including injuries and diseases.

Examples of the exposures include:

• Depleted uranium
• Burn Pits
• Toxic embedded fragments
• Infectious diseases
• Rabies
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Sand, dust, and particulates
• Occupational hazards

If you were exposed to any of these during your service as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, please contact Berry Law Firm today by phone or online for a free consultation about your potential right to VA benefits. 

Symptoms of Afghanistan War Exposures

Symptoms of these exposures may include the following:

• Depleted uranium –
  Depleted uranium may cause health problems if it enters the body through an embedded fragment, inhalation, contaminated wounds, or ingestion. Depleted uranium, unlike most chemical agents, never exits the body. Afghanistan War veterans who have high concentrations of depleted uranium may experience serious kidney problems.
• Burn pits –
  Inhaling the smoke from military waste disposal burn pits during Operation Enduring Freedom may have exposed Afghanistan War veterans who were close to the burn pits for extended periods of time to toxins that are causing health problems with their respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems, as well as their eyes and internal organs.
• Toxic embedded fragments –
  Some Operation Enduring Freedom veterans suffered blast injuries that left shrapnel embedded in their bodies. Imbedded shrapnel may cause serious health issues, including the initial impact injury and illnesses arising from toxic chemicals that entered the bloodstream.
• Infectious diseases –
  Afghanistan War veterans may have been exposed to infectious diseases during their service.
  
  Examples include:
  • Malaria
  • Brucellosis
  • Campylobacter Jejuni
  • Coxiella Burnetii (Q Fever)
  • Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
  • Nontyphoidal Salmoneela
  • Shigella
  • Visceral Leishmaniasis
  • West Nile Virus
  • Rabies
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) –
  Afghanistan War veterans may have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to explosions during the war. Immediate symptoms include confusion, no memory of the blast, dizziness, flashes of light, and loss of consciousness or the sensation of being knocked out. Long-term symptoms include light and noise sensitivity, chronic headaches and neck pain, chronic depression, anxiety, and apathy, tinnitus, chronic fatigue, blurred vision, concentration and organizational problems, and slowed thinking, speaking, and reading.
• Sand, dust, and particulates –
  The environment in Afghanistan, because of its climate and terrain, is full of pollution, dust, sand, and other airborne particles. It’s highly likely that veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom were exposed to significant amounts of airborne particulate matter. Large particles are generally not long-term problems, but fine particles can fill the lungs and airways and cause severe respiratory problems. Symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, skin, eyes, nose, and throat irritation, and shortness of breath.
• Occupational hazards –
  Afghanistan War veterans may have had exposure to hazardous chemicals or environmental factors because of their service. Symptoms can range from skin irritations, nose irritations, and eye irritations to more severe problems such as respiratory diseases, poisoning, and even death.

For Afghanistan War veterans in Operation Enduring Freedom who were exposed to environmental and chemical hazards and who were affected immediately or who have developed long-term injuries, diseases, and health problems as a direct result of that exposure may be qualified for disability benefits from the VA.

If you believe you are entitled to disability compensation through the VA because of exposure during your participation in Operation Enduring Freedom during the Afghanistan War, please contact Berry Law Firm for a free consultation today.

Types of VA Disability Claims for Afghanistan Veterans

Our experience shows that the types of claims that veterans most often successfully appeal involve:

• Mental health issues, including but not limited to:
  • PTSD
  • TBI-connected issues
  • Depression
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychosis
• Gulf War Syndrome (Gulf War-related “chronic multisymptom illness” or “undiagnosed illnesses”)
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Orthopedic injuries, including but not limited to:
  • Neck
  • Spine
  • Back
  • Hips
  • Knees (particularly as a secondary to foot-related disabilities)
• Amputation
• Ischemic heart disease

Other types of claims we investigate for Afghanistan Veterans

• Alcoholism or Drug Abuse
• Amputation or Loss of Use
• Exposure to Radioactive Substances
• Gunshot Wounds
• Hearing Loss or Inner Ear Injury
• Hepatitis C
• Knee, Leg and Arm Injuries
• Medical Malpractice
• Military Burn Pits
• Prescription Drug Abuse
• Scars and Disfigurement
• Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep
• Visual Impairment or Blindness