Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
People join the military for a variety of reasons. Some want to serve their country while others view the organization as an opportunity for career and financial advancement. However, many of these perceived benefits come with risks. Even if they don’t see live combat, service members can experience a host of problems ranging from physical injuries to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the stress.
Members of the military also face lesser-known risks when they sign up to serve their country. These risks can impact their short and long-term health. Here are a few unexpected ways veterans are affected in the years following their time in the armed forces.
Depression
After serving in the military, it’s common for veterans to develop depression. One study found up to 16% of service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq experienced symptoms of depression. These feelings might come from survivor’s guilt that they lived while their fellow soldiers didn’t or come from the pain of watching civilians suffer in a war zone.
Depression is more than just feeling sad. Its symptoms can be debilitating and prevent veterans from working and enjoying life. Feelings of hopelessness, angry outbursts, difficulty sleeping, and slowed thinking are just a few common symptoms. These can last for weeks on end and leave the families of veterans suffering from depression feeling confused and alone.
Arthritis
More than one in three veterans (35.2%) develop arthritis, which is significantly higher than the general population at 21.2%. The CDC believes this is caused by traumatic injuries and overuse, which wears down the body over time.
Arthritis causes swelling and stiffness in the joints, which can make it hard to move. This condition often develops in specific areas, like the knees, fingers, and elbows. Arthritis has no cure, but doctors can treat the inflammation to make patients more comfortable.
Chemical Exposure
Members of the military have a high potential for exposure to toxic chemicals. Veterans who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars risked exposure to Agent Orange, while those who were in Iraq and Afghanistan might have been exposed to the burn pits.
One of the most notable sources of exposure to toxic chemicals is the water poisoning at Camp Lejeune. Service members, their families, and civilian employees all drank and bathed in contaminated water from 1953 to 1987 before toxic leaks were discovered and sealed. Even though the issue has been contained for nearly four decades, many people are still living with conditions caused by the toxic water. The contaminated water also affected children who were in utero at the time, because the toxic exposure increased their risk of developing birth defects.
This is just one example of how military personnel can be exposed to per and poly fluoralkyl substances, also known as PFAS. These chemicals are often considered forever chemicals because of their inability to break down in the environment and are related to the development of many health problems. In addition to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, PFAs are also found in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which was commonly used on many military bases to put out fires. As of 2023, the Department of Defense has been working to identify and phase out the use of AFFF because of the damage it causes to the environment and human health.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has programs to support veterans exposed to harmful chemicals and there are currently several active lawsuits related to the Camp Lejeune poisoning.
Infectious Disease Risk
Members of the military are more likely to catch infectious diseases when they are stationed abroad. For example, malaria is nearly unheard of in the United States but is common in other parts of the world. In 2021, there were 21 cases of service members with malaria, which jumped to 30 cases in 2022. This is a mosquito-borne illness without a vaccine.
Disease risks vary from one country to the next, but military members are more likely to be exposed to diseases like cholera, hepatitis, rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever in their travels.
Reluctance To Seek Care
Military veterans are often reluctant to reach out for help when they experience mental and physical health conditions. Part of this has to do with their military training: service members are taught to be tough and push through the pain. However, ignoring warning signs from your body can cause conditions to get worse. By the time many veterans seek help, their issues have moved from mild to severe.
Many veterans also struggle to connect health problems with their military service. They might not realize that symptoms of certain conditions take years to develop. Avoiding treatment reduces awareness of occupation-related health problems of joining the military as conditions and health issues go underreported.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can prevent people from thinking clearly during the day and also affect their physical health because the body doesn’t have time to rest and heal. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience insomnia. There are multiple reasons for this, including disrupted sleep patterns during service and PTSD.
Insomnia is often a symptom of depression and PTSD; however, insomnia can also make other symptoms of these conditions worse. As a result, developing insomnia can impact veterans by causing their mental health to spiral. It can prevent them from working, playing, and spending time with loved ones.
Substance Use Disorders
There are many forms of substance abuse in American veterans. An estimated 82% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans report living with chronic pain, which could lead to painkiller abuse. Regarding mental health, many veterans experience depression and PTSD, causing 18 to 22 veterans to die by suicide each day. Mental health disorders can lead to abuse of antidepressants and illegal drugs if they aren’t cared for.
Veterans can become dependent on opioids or develop harmful side effects from them, including mood swings, dizziness, drowsiness, and immune system dysfunction. They risk overdosing or developing years-long dependencies. By addressing the physical and mental health needs of veterans, the American healthcare system can fight the substance abuse that harms this community.
Can You Sue the VA for Long-Term Health Issues?
Military personnel of all ranks experience mental and physical effects from their service. Many of these problems will follow them for decades and worsen over time. Fortunately, there are resources available. Veterans may be able to seek compensation by taking legal action against the VA. They can either develop individual lawsuits or join a mass tort case. Some cases, like the Camp Lejeune claims, have thousands of plaintiffs seeking compensation for their injuries.
If you or someone you know was harmed by their military service, you deserve to have your treatment covered. Talk to a legal professional today to learn about your options and how to move forward.