OPERATIONS IRAQI FREEDOM/

ENDURING FREEDOM REVIEW 

www.VA.gov/EnvironAgents 

Information for Veterans Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families
 

Vol. 4, No. 1 April 2007 

BLAST INJURY: IED’s AS THE CURRENT WEAPON OF CHOICE 

The following article was prepared especially for the readers 

of this publication. Authors Heather G. Belanger, Ph.D., and 

Stephen G. Scott, D.O., noted that while it was supported 

by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health 

Administration, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 

and the James A. Haley Veterans’Hospital in Tampa, FL, the 

views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect 

the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The number of blast-related injuries has exploded in recent 

wars. Current military research suggests that explosive 

munitions and small arms account for approximately three 

out of four combat-related injuries.1 Blast injuries occur 

almost daily in Iraq and Afghanistan from the impact of 

rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices 

(or IEDs), and land mines. And, because of the rise of 

global terrorism and urban warfare, these blast injuries also 

have become more common in the civilian sector. 

Blast injuries result from the rise in atmospheric pressure 

in an explosion. The explosion can generate a wave of 

increased pressure that spreads quickly, causing the greatest 

risk of injury to those closest to the explosion and often 

causing multiple injuries. 

A variety of factors contribute to the extent of the injury, 

including the distance of the victim from the blast, the 

surrounding environment (that is, water versus air), the size 

of the surrounding environment (that is, open versus closed 

space), and the composition of the explosive materials (that 

is, high versus low explosion). Although improvements in 

body armor and better medical treatment on the front-lines 

are saving soldiers’ lives from devastating blast injuries, 

more war wounded are returning with multiple complex 

injuries or “polytrauma.” 

Blast Injuries Produce Many Different Patterns of Injuries 

Blast injuries typically are divided into four categories: 

primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary or miscellaneous 

injuries2

. Individuals may sustain many injuries from one 

or more of these mechanisms: 

(1) Primary blast injuries are caused by overpressure to gascontaining organ systems, such as the lung, bowel, and 

inner ear. Primary blasts may also result in traumatic 

limb or partial limb amputation. 

(2) Secondary blast injuries occur from fragments and

other missiles, causing head injuries and soft tissue

trauma. Fragments also may be contaminated,

which can cause infection.

(3)	 Tertiary blast injuries result from displacement of the

wholebodybycombinedpressureloads(shockwaveand

dynamic overpressure). These injuries also are called

“displacement injuries” and may include head injury,

broken bones, tissue damage, and other injuries.

(4) Finally, there are miscellaneous blast-related injuries

such as burns, smoke inhalation, and crush injuries

from collapsed structures and displaced heavy objects.

Possible “Invisible” Injuries 

A common problem for medical care is that many injuries are 

initially “invisible.” For instance, injury to the brain, emotional 

problems, small fragments imbedded in the body, and hearing 

and balance problems may not be obvious immediately to the 

treating physician or to the patient. (Continued on page 2) 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Mental Health Issues Are a Major Concern for OIF/OEF 

Veterans .......................................................................... 2 

Quick Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury ............................ 2 

Readjustment Issues after Deployment .......................... 3 

VA Social Worker Deployed: A Year in Iraq ...................... 4

New Brochure Explains Registry Programs ..................... 5

About OIF/OEF “Review” ................................................ 6

How to Apply for Disability Compensation from VA ........ 6 

VA Disability Compensation Rates in 2007 ..................... 7 

Many Vets May Be Missing Out On Special Compensation .. 7 

Newsletter Editor Rosenblum Retires ............................. 8

Address Changes ........................................................... 8 

Transition Assistance Advisors – Trained and Ready to 

Serve Veterans ............................................................... 9

Where to Get Help .......................................................... 11 

Department of Veterans Affairs 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

(Continued from page 1) 

All four types of blast injuries described may include brain 

injury. For instance, secondary blast injuries may include brain 

injury due to an object piercing the skull and damaging the 

brain. Tertiary brain injury would involve blunt trauma to the 

head (that is, the skull hitting an object with force). These brain 

injuries, particularly if they are mild, may go undiagnosed and 

untreated as attention is focused on more “visible” injuries. If 

the survivor did not lose consciousness for a lengthy period of 

time, he or she may not be aware of any injury to the brain. 

The long-term effect of several, mild brain injuries due to 

blasts is largely unknown. Symptoms of mild head injury 

or “concussion” may include forgetfulness, slowed thinking, 

and difficulty doing more than one thing at a time. Typically, 

these symptoms go away within a few months, though brain 

injury due to blasts is not well studied in humans. 

Survivors of blast may sustain emotional shock and may develop 

posttraumatic stress disorder (or PTSD). Early diagnosis of PTSDrelated symptoms is helpful in preventing worse problems later on. 

Finally, hearing loss, balance problems, and small metal 

fragments imbedded in the body often initially go undetected 

and may cause pain, confusion, and/or functional limitations 

later on. Due to the potential for these “invisible” injuries 

following exposure to a blast, a medical approach focusing 

on the mechanism-of-injury (that is, the blast), rather than 

the most obvious presenting symptom, is therefore thought 

to be important in these cases.3 

Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers 

InApril2005,recognizingthespecialneedsofreturningsoldiers, 

Congress charged VA with establishing four Polytrauma 

Rehabilitation Centers (inTampa, Florida, PaloAlto, California, 

Richmond, Virginia, and Minneapolis, Minnesota). VHA 

Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (PRCs) are conducting 

research and developing the best processes for managing the 

multiple challenges faced by severely injured soldiers. 

At each Polytrauma Center, the team of experts look at 

the medical, psychological, rehabilitation, and prosthetic 

needs of these individuals. This team usually consists of 

a physician, rehabilitation therapists, an audiologist, a 

speech pathologist, neuropsychologist/psychologists, social 

workers, and experts from other disciplines, with access to 

the full range of medical and support services within the 

hospital to meet the patient’s needs. 

SupportingtheseleadcentersistheDefenseandVeteransBrain 

Injury Center (DVBIC), a cooperative treatment and research 

programintraumaticbraininjurythatrepresentsacollaboration 

among the Department of Defense, the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and civilian organizations. Together, these 

partners are working hard to secure a better future for active 

duty personnel and military veterans through state-of-the-art 

medical and rehabilitation services. Additional information 

regarding the DVBIC can be obtained via their website at 

www.dvbic.org/

References: 

1 Zouris, J.M., Walker, G.J., Dye, J. & Galarneau, M. (2006). Wounding 

patterns for U.S. Marines and sailors during Operation Iraqi Freedom, major 

combat phase. Military Medicine, 171(3): 246-52. 

2 Wightman JM. & Gladish SL. (2001). Explosions and blast injuries. 

Annals of Emergency Medicine. 37:664-78. 

3 Belanger, H.G., Scott, S.G., Scholten, J., Curtiss, G. & Vanderploeg, R.D. 

(2005). Utility of mechanism-of-injury-based assessment and treatment: 

Blast injury Program case illustration. Journal of Rehabilitation Research 

and Development, 42(4), 403-12. 

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE MAJOR CONCERN 

FOR OIF/OEF VETERANS 

We have been working with VA’s Mental Illness Research, 

Education, and Clinical Centers (MIRECCs) to address some 

of these issues. OIF/OEF Review is launching a new series 

on “Mental Health and Combat Veterans.” Featured here are 

articles from MIRECC experts on Traumatic Brain Injury 

and Readjustment after Deployment, as well as an interview 

with David Rabb, a VA social worker deployed to Iraq with 

the Army’s 785th Medical Company’s Combat Stress Unit. 

We will regularly follow up on this concern in future issues of 

this newsletter. Many here at VA are concerned that veterans 

serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan may be at increased 

risk for mental health problems upon their return home. We 

are also committed to making sure that new veterans have 

access to the mental health care that they may need. 

QUICK GUIDE TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 

Katherine H. Taber PhD and Robin A. Hurley MD 

Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center 

W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury NC 

Brain injuries are becoming increasingly more common with 

changes in modern warfare. Returning combat veterans may not 

know they have suffered such a wound. That is why VA doctors 

want returning soldiers and their families to have this information. 

If the head is hit or shaken severely, a “concussion” or “closed 

head injury” can result. Many types of forces can cause a brain 

injury. Examples include being hit on the head, being near an 

explosion, and being in a motor vehicle accident. Abrain injury 

can happen in the absence of any external injury. However, it is 

important to remember that presence of external injury does not 

mean the brain has been injured. 

Concussion is seldom life threatening, so doctors often use 

the term “mild” when the person is only dazed or confused 

or loses consciousness for a short time. However, concussion 

can result in serious symptoms. People who survive multiple 

2
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

concussions may have more serious problems. Here are some 

of the more common symptoms of brain injury. 

Common Symptoms of Brain Injury 

■ “I just don’t feel like myself” ■ Trouble with memory, attention, 

or concentration 

■ Feeling light-headed or dizzy ■ More sensitive to sounds, lights 

or distractions 

■ Difficulty organizing daily tasks ■ Impaired decision making or 

problem solving 

■ Blurred vision or eyes tire easily ■ Difficulty inhibiting behavior 

- impulsive 

■ Headaches or ringing in the ears ■ Slowed thinking, moving, 

speaking or reading 

■ Feeling sad, anxious or listless ■ Easily confused, feeling easily 

overwhelmed 

■ Easily irritated or angered ■ Change in sleep - much more 

or much less 

■ Feeling tired all the time ■ Change in sexual interest or 

behavior 

People who have had a concussion may say that they are 

“fine,” although their behavior or personality has changed. 

Changes such as these in a family member or friend suggest 

the need for medical help. 

Recovery Following Brain Injury 

Some symptoms may be present immediately. Others 

may appear much later. People experience brain injuries 

differently. Speed of recovery varies from person to person. 

Most people with mild brain injuries recover fully, but it can 

take time. Here are some things that can be done to promote 

healing, and to make symptoms easier to manage. 

To Promote Healing and Manage Symptoms 

THINGS THAT CAN HELP THINGS THAT CAN HURT 

■ Get plenty of rest & sleep ■ Avoid activities that could lead to 

another brain injury - examples include 

contact sports, motorcycles, skiing 

■ Increase activity slowly ■ Avoid alcohol as it may slow 

healing of the injury 

■ Carry a notebook - write 

things down if you have 

trouble remembering 

■ Avoid caffeine or “energy-enhancing” 

products as they may increase 

symptoms 

■ Establish a regular daily 

routine to structure 

activities 

■ Avoid pseudoephedrine-containing 

products as they may increase 

symptoms - check the labels on 

cough, cold, and allergy medicines 

■ Do only things at a time if you 

are easily distracted - turn off 

the TV or radio while you work 

■ Avoid excessive use of over-thecounter sleeping aids - they can 

slow thinking and memory 

■ Check with someone you trust when making decisions 

In general, recovery is slower in older persons. People 

with a previous brain injury may find that it takes longer 

to recover from their current injury. Some symptoms can 

last for days, weeks, or longer. Talk to your health care 

provider about any troubling symptoms or problems. 

Resources for More Information and Help 

Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi

Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center www.dvbic.org

Brain Injury Association www.biausa.org

Veterans Health Administration www1.va.gov/

EnvironAgents/docs/TBI-handout-patients.pdf

Veterans Health Administration www1.va.gov/

EnvironAgents/docs/TBI-pocketcard-patients.pdf

READJUSTMENT AFTER DEPLOYMENT 

Kristy Straits-Tröster, PhD & Harold Kudler, MD 

VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical 

Center (MIRECC) Durham, North Carolina 

All service members and their families face a period of 

readjustment after deployment. Skills developed in combat 

can cause real trouble if they continue after the warrior 

comes home. For example, responding with lightning 

speed to the slightest noise or movement may be life saving 

in combat, but can lead to problems with dangerous driving, 

aggression and isolation from friends and family when the 

service member comes home. 

Problems like trouble sleeping, having a short temper or 

feeling emotionally shut down are common after combat. 

Such reactions generally continue during the first weeks 

back and are perfectly normal, but they can cause trouble 

in the home and at work. Other problems such as physical 

injuries, pain, or financial stress can further complicate the 

situation. Many people turn to alcohol or other substances 

in the belief that this will help them get by. Unfortunately 

drinking and drug use make readjustment even harder and 

can bring out new problems. 

If problems grow to the point where they get in the way of 

functioning well in the family or on the job, it is time to 

get help. 

Fortunately, help is available in a number of ways. 

The first step is to get enough information to make an 

informed choice about what kind of help will be best 

for you and your family. Here is short list of options to 

consider: 

3
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

VA Medical Centers and Community Based 

Outpatient Clinics 

• OEF/OIF veterans are eligible for free care for possibly 

combat-related conditions during their first 2 years postdeployment. For additional information, go to 

www.va.gov/EnvironmentalAgents. 

• Every VA Medical Center (VAMC) has an individual staff 

member assigned to be the “Seamless Transition” OIF/OEF 

Point of Contact to personally help veterans access the VA 

system to meet their personal and family needs. Find out 

more about healthcare access and benefits on the web at: 

www.seamlesstransition.va.gov or call your local VAMC 

and ask to speak with the OIF/OEF Point of Contact. 

Vet Centers 

• Vet Centers offer “hassle-free” assistance to combat 

veterans and their families.
 

• There is never a charge for anyone with a DD 214 and you 

don’t have to be registered with the VA to get help from a 

Vet Center. 

• Vet Centers also provide some family-centered services. 

• Vet Centers can be found in over 200 community locations. 

• Most Vet Center staff are veterans themselves. 

• Many Vet Centers have evening hours available. 

• To find the Vet Center in your area, go to www.va.gov/rcs. 

Military OneSource 

• Can arrange face-to-face confidential counseling for OIF/OEF 

veterans and their family members in their own neighborhoods 

through a contract with the Department of Defense. Use the 

toll free number or the web site cited below. 

• Military OneSource provides a 24/7 telephone hotline for 

information and support at 1-800-342-9647.
 

• Great downloadable information on coping with 

readjustment issues is available on the web site at: 

www.militaryonesource.com.
 

National Center for PTSD 

• Offers PTSD news and information for veterans, their 

families, and the professionals who work with them.
 

• Check out the two new guides for OIF/OEF veterans and 

families, “Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Military 

Personnel” and “A Guide for Families” at www.ncptsd.va.gov. 

• The “Iraq War Clinician’s Guide” is also available at this site. 

If you or someone you know could use some help with post 

deployment readjustment, please consider following up with 

some of these options. Sometimes a little help early on can go 

a long way towards feeling good after coming home. 

A VA SOCIAL WORKER’S YEAR IN IRAQ 

David Rabb came to social work with an uncommon 

background. In his 20s, he entered graduate school at 

the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service 

Administration -- straight from the Marine Corps. Many 

of his classmates still were young adults. They had 

experienced anti-war demonstrations but not war, and 

they never had met a soldier. He wrote a thesis on posttraumatic stress disorder, did an internship at Westside 

VA Medical Center (now renamed the Jesse Brown VA 

Medical Center) working with Vietnam veterans in the 

mental health clinic, psychiatric day hospital and chemical 

dependency program. He continued his work as a social 

worker at the Hines VA Hospital in Chicago, IL and then 

at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Today, nearly a 

quarter century later, those early experiences are reflected 

in Rabb’s commitment to veterans. He serves as the 

Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Health’s 

Diversity Advisory Committee, and says that veterans are 

one of the nation’s biggest minority groups, with “our own 

culture, history, value system, shared language, and unique 

experiences.” 

In 2004, as a social worker, Rabb was deployed to Iraq 

with an uncommon background. He was a Lieutenant 

Colonel in the Army’s 785th Medical Company, Combat 

Stress Control Unit. The Army had invested a lot of training 

and preparation in the unit. But never had such a team 

of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains 

and other mental health specialists been deployed on such 

a wide and comprehensive scale – until Operation Iraqi 

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Rabb’s job 

as commanding officer of the unit was to oversee mental 

health care provided to soldiers in combat. Following are 

some questions we asked him and Rabb’s responses about 

his experiences and insights. 

Q: What were concerns soldiers in Iraq expressed to you 

about their experiences serving in Iraq? 

A: There were three top reasons soldiers came to us in the 

Combat Stress Unit. 

• First, many came because they needed to talk about 

their experiences in combat, where they often were 

involved in life-threatening situations in which they 

were fired upon or had to return fire. There is more 

than one side to these intense experiences: from the 

mental and physical side to the emotional and spiritual 

side. For some service members, this may have been 

their first brush with death or near death, and they were 

trying to make sense of what they experienced. War has 

a way of exposing people to experiences that are outside 

the range of what other people experience. 

4
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Most of the time, service members didn’t come to us; we 

went to them by sending out mental health prevention 

teams that embedded with units. Over time, we built 

relationships with soldiers and leaders so that they knew 

to whom they could turn in times of need, including 

when a buddy was hurt badly or killed. 

• A second major reason soldiers came to us was 

conflicts in relationships, either with leadership or 

with peers. When you live with the same people for 

365 days, someone is bound to get on your nerves 

because of miscommunication, misunderstanding, or 

disappointment. Stress has a way of bringing out the 

best and worst in people. We could offer two things: 

Help in gaining perspective on a situation that couldn’t 

be changed but might be able to be managed, and help 

in adapting to the particular situation. 

• Third, homefront worries were a major source of distress 

for some service members – concerns about how family 

members or loved ones were doing, missing important 

events (such as births, deaths, anniversaries, graduations), 

worries about finances, or “Dear John” and “Dear Jane” 

letters or emails. Again, our goal was to talk with soldiers 

about their concerns, to help them build a bridge to get 

over or get through what they were facing. 

Q: What can you tell us that will help communicate to our 

readers that they are not alone in their reactions? 

A: Most returning servicemen and women go through a 

period of readjustment – you may feel off balance or like 

you are struggling or stuck. 

It takes time to reconnect with family and friends, but gradually 

most service members find their balance and way. Some 

soldiers also may go through a period of stress reactions after 

returning from war. Stress reactions, such as having trouble 

sleeping or difficulty in feeling closeness in relationships, may 

be strong at first but usually fade over time. 

One good rule of thumb is that for every month a person 

was deployed, he or she can expect a month of readjustment. 

So, if you were in deployed for a year, you can expect a 12-

month adjustment period to feel fully back to normal. 

Some service members and veterans may develop more 

severe stress reactions to their war experiences and will 

need more support to manage and make the adjustments 

back to civilian life. The earlier you get help, the easier it is 

to combat severe stress reactions. A counselor can help you 

sort out the problems, and also get you to other resources 

you may need, such as individual or group counseling, 

marital counseling, or anger management. A counselor can 

also guide you, if necessary, to care that includes evidencebased psychotherapy or psychotherapeutic medications. 

Q: It seems like war should be the hard part – and coming 

home should be easy. But, that’s not always so. Why? 

A: In many cases, coming home is as difficult as leaving to go 

off to war. In both cases -- going off to war and coming home 

from war-- service members and loved ones go through many 

adjustments. In order to cope and manage while a husband 

or wife is away at war for months, family dynamics shift and 

family members are forced to be more independent. The 

deployed service member also goes through mental shifts to 

withstand the stress of war. When a service member returns 

home, everyone has changed in order to survive the experience 

– soldier, wife, husband, parents, even children. You may not 

be able to see the changes, but you can feel them, in your own 

mental attitudes and in your loved ones’behavior. It isn’t easy 

– and in order to regroup and find balance, you will need to 

rely on thoughtful communication and negotiation. 

For some service members, the readjustment also may be 

complicated by other factors, for instance when you come 

back to a living situation that brings problems you didn’t 

have before you were deployed – you received a “Dear 

John” or “Dear Jane letter, you’re facing a divorce, financial 

problems may have mounted, a parent may be sick. In other 

cases, you may have lost a buddy during the war and have 

the added burden of returning home without him or her and 

also may feel survival guilt or sadness from this loss. In this 

“complicated readjustment,” even though the unit may be 

greeted with a hero’s welcome, and media coverage and you 

know you should be happy, it is hard to celebrate. Attention 

to “complicated readjustment” is important thing to consider 

and seek support for during readjustment. 

In future interviews with Mr. Rabb and others and in 

future articles about mental health, we will explore special 

issues, such as dealing with the stigma or embarrassment 

of getting care for mental health problems, and how to deal 

with grief when you lose a buddy in battle. 

NEW BROCHURE EXPLAINS REGISTRY PROGRAMS 

VA’s Environmental Agents Service (EAS) has produced 

and distributed a new brochure, entitled “VA Special Health 

Registry Examination Programs,” that provides useful 

information about the various health registry programs EAS 

administers, including the Gulf War Registry. Operation 

Iraqi Freedom veterans are eligible to participate in the Gulf 

War Registry (See Gulf War Registry Statistics, Including 

OIF Participants in this issue). 

The publication describes the health registry exams, 

and provides answers to questions such as why VA has 

registries, how a veteran gets on a registry, what benefits 

and limitations are included, where registry examinations 

are available, and how many veterans have participated in 

the various VA registry programs. 

5
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

An additional goal of the brochure is to respond to 

misconceptions,includingtherelationshipbetweenthehealth 

registries and the disability compensation claims process. 

The health registries are separate from a disability claim. 

While the registry examination results might yield useful 

information for the adjudication of a claim, participation in 

the registry does not mean that a claim is filed. The filing of 

a disability claim is a separate process. 

The brochure, or Information Bulletin 10-57, is available from 

the Environmental Health Coordinator at allVAmedical centers 

and is posted on the Web at www.va.gov/EnvironAgents. 

ABOUT THE “OIF/OEF REVIEW” 

This is the sixth issue of the “Operations Iraqi Freedom 

/Enduring Freedom Review” newsletter. Earlier issues 

are dated December 2003, June 2004, February 2005, 

September 2005, and February 2006. The newsletter is 

written by VA’s Environmental Agents Service (EAS). 

The “Review” is published to provide information about 

the concerns of veterans, specifically those who served in 

Operations Iraqi Freedom, primarily in Iraq, and Operation 

Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, their families, and 

others interested in possible long-term health consequences 

of military service in Southwest Asia in particular. 

The “Review” describes actions by VA and others to 

respond to these concerns. For past and current issues of 

the “Review” and additional information, see our Web site 

at www.va.gov/EnvironAgents. For Gulf War Review 

newsletters or information about the Gulf War, see 

www.va.gov/GulfWar. 

Comments or questions concerning the content of the 

“Review” are encouraged. Suggestions and ideas for future 

issues of the newsletter should be sent to the Environmental 

Agents Service (131), VA Central Office, 

810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420. 

Requests for additional copies of this and/or future issues 

should also be sent to the above address. A limited supply 

of the prior issues is available. Please specify the quantity 

and issue date requested. 

Questions about the Gulf War Registry examination should 

be directed to the Environmental Health Coordinator or 

Environmental Health Clinician at the nearest VA medical 

facility. The telephone number can be found in the local 

telephone directory under the “U.S. Government” listings. 

Assistance is also available from the toll-free Veterans 

Special Issues Helpline: 1-800-749-8387. VA benefit offices 

also have a great deal of information about VA benefit 

programs. The national toll-free telephone number is 

1-800-827-1000. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION 

FROM VA 

(Because of the high level of interest in this subject, the 

following article has been updated and is repeated). 

Like other veterans, OIF/OEF War veterans with serviceconnected illnesses or injuries are eligible for monthly 

payments, called disability compensation. The disability 

must have been incurred or aggravated during active 

military service. Furthermore, the service of the veteran 

must have been terminated from military service through 

separation or discharge under conditions that were other 

than dishonorable. 

Disability compensation varies according to the degree of 

disability and the number of dependents. Benefits are not 

subject to Federal or state income tax. The receipt of military 

retirement pay, disability severance pay, and separation 

incentive payments known as SSB and VSI (Special 

Separation Benefits and Voluntary Separation Incentives) 

also affects the amount of VA compensation paid. 

The disability ratings range from 0 to 100 percent (in 

increments of 10 percent). For example, in 2007, a veteran 

with a disability rating of 10 percent receives $115; a 

veteran with disability rating of 50 percent gets $712; and a 

veteran who is totally disabled and evaluated at 100 percent 

receives $2,471 monthly. 

Veterans with disability ratings between 30 and 100 percent 

also are eligible for monthly allowances for each child. 

(The amount depends on the disability rating). 

Aveteran who either is in need of regular aid and attendance 

of another person or who is permanently housebound 

may be entitled to additional benefits. VA must make that 

determination before the veteran can get these benefits. 

Must Apply To Be Considered 

Veterans must apply separately for disability compensation. 

It is not provided automatically; nor does participation 

in a health registry substitute for filing a claim. VA 

veterans service representatives (VSR) can provide the 

necessary application and assist veterans who need help in 

completing it. VSRs are located at all VA Regional Offices, 

in VA medical centers, and at most VA clinics. For help 

in locating a VSR near you, call the following toll-free 

telephone number: 1-800-827-1000. 

Other Benefits 

In addition to the compensation program described above, 

individual veterans may be eligible for the full range of other 

benefits offered by VA, including education and training, 

6
 
 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

 

 

		

		

		

 

 

 

 

 


 

vocational rehabilitation, home loan guarantees, life 

insurance, pension, burial benefits, and more. 

To learn more about VA’s programs, OIF and OEF veterans 

and other interested parties can visit the VA home page 

www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. 

VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION RATES IN 2007 

Percent Disabled No Dependents Veteran & Spouse 

10% $115 -­

20% $225 -­

30% $348 $389 

40% $501 $556 

50% $712 $781 

60% $901 $984 

70% $1,135 $1,232 

80% $1,319 $1,430 

90% $1,483 $1,608 

100% $2,471 $2,610 

These rates were effective December 1, 2006. Veterans with 

disability ratings of at least 30 percent are eligible for additional 

allowances for dependents. Dependents include spouses, minor 

children, children between ages 18 and 23 who are attending 

school, children who are permanently incapable of self-support 

because of disabilities arising before age 18, and dependent 

parents. The additional amount depends on the disability rating. 

Veterans with certain severe disabilities may also be eligible 

for additional special monthly compensation. For additional 

rate information, see compensation rate tables online at 

www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm. Legislation 

is pending to increase the rates. 

MANY VETS MAY BE MISSING OUT ON SPECIAL 

COMPENSATION 

This article was submitted on behalf of the Air Force, 

Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard by Rick Castro, 

Combat Related Special Compensation Program Manager, 

HQ Air Force Personnel Center. Please keep in mind that 

only those veterans who can answer ‘yes’ to all four of the 

questions in this article may qualify for this program. 

Just because a veteran was not injured in combat does not 

mean he or she may not be entitled to receive CombatRelated Special Compensation (CRSC). Many veterans 

may be missing out on hundreds, if not thousands, of 

dollars every month because they have not applied for the 

compensation. Don’t let the term combat throw you; there 

are many circumstances which are combat related that 

could justify approval of extra tax-free money for you. 

CRSC is designed to restore military retirement pay 

that has been offset by Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) compensation when evidence exists to confirm the 

associated disabilities are combat related. For example, if 

a veteran is currently rated for a disability of 10 percent 

with the VA, he or she receives a check from the VA for 

$115 each month, but his or her retired pay is reduced by 

that same amount. If that disability is found to be combatrelated by the CRSC review board, he or she would continue 

to receive the monthly check from the VA for $115 along 

with the remainder of the retired pay, but begin to receive 

an additional monthly check from CRSC for $115. 

Many disabilities that resulted from conditions during 

peacetime may meet the criteria for CRSC. Some examples 

are an aircraft mechanic who works on the flight line and begins 

to lose his hearing while in-service; a personnel technician 

who dives for cover during a simulated air raid and injures 

her shoulder; and a special forces journeyman who makes a 

peacetime parachute jump and breaks his ankle upon landing. 

Ifyou’renotsurethecircumstancessurroundingyourdisability 

meet the combat-related criteria, it would be beneficial for you 

to apply for CRSC and let the board make a determination 

for you. There are a few prerequisites to consider before 

submitting a CRSC application. To meet the basic eligibility 

criteria to be considered for CRSC, veterans must: 

■		Be retired with 20 (or more) years of active-duty military 

service, or retired at age 60 from the Guard or Reserve and 

■ Be receiving military retired pay and 

■		Have a compensable VA disability rating of 10 percent 

or higher and 

■		Receive military retired pay that is reduced by VA 

disability payments. 

NOTE: Veterans who waived military retirement pay for 

Civil Service credit are not eligible to apply for CRSC. 

Copies of the Claim for Combat-Related Special 

Compensation, DD Form 2860, and more information on 

the program can obtained from the following websites: 

DoD Defenselink

www.dod.gov/prhome/mppcrsc.html

AIR FORCE

HQ Air Force Personnel Center

ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil

1.800.616.3775 toll-free (Select option 5, then option 1)

or 210.565.1600

ARMY 

Army Human Resources Command 

www.hrc.crsc.army.mil/site/crsc/

1.866.281.3254 toll-free

7
 
	 	 	 	

	 	

	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	

	 	

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

___ 

___ 

___ 

___ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

COAST GUARD

Coast Guard Personnel Command (adm-1)

www.uscg.mil/hq/cgpc/adm/adm1.htm

1.866.307.1336 toll-free

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Naval Council of Personnel Boards

www.hq.navy.mil/ncpb/CRSCB/combatrelated.htm

1-877.366.2772 toll-free (prerecorded)

Applyingisworththeeffort. Itwilltakealittletimetocomplete 

the application and make copies of your documentation, but it 

could mean qualifying for monthly tax-free compensation for 

the rest of your life. 

NEWSLETTER EDITOR RETIRES 

Don Rosenblum

After nearly 34 years of Federal 

Service, including 32 years with 

VA, the writer/editor of the OIF/ 

OEF Review, Donald J. Rosenblum, 

retired in early September 2006. 

This is his final issue of the OIF/ 

OEF Review. He was the chief 

writer and editor of the newsletter 

since helping create it in 2003. 

Rosenblum worked on issues related to environmental hazards 

since he joined theAgent Orange program office in September 

1980. He prepared the Agent Orange Review (since 1989), 

the Gulf War Review, and the Ionizing Radiation Review. In 

addition, he has authored numerous Information Bulletins 

(brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets), co-edited two books in the 

Veterans Health Initiative series, assisted in the development 

of various posters, exhibits, and videotape programs, other 

outreach items, and has responded to thousands of letters. 

Rosenblum won numerous awards (including the 

Wordmaster Award three times) and commendations from 

VA and several organizations for whom he volunteers. 

Rosenblum created a strong foundation for this and the 

other newsletters that will continue past his retirement. 

For this article, Rosenblum’s supervisor, Mark A. Brown, 

Director, Environmental Agents Services, offered the 

following remarks about his retiring Deputy’s contribution 

to VA and the veterans it serves: 

His fellow workers all will miss his enthusiasm and hard 

work, but they know that his work over the years has touched 

the lives of literally millions of veterans and their families, 

including, of course, the readers of this newsletter. 

We are fortunate to have as our new editor of the “OIF/ 

OEF Review” Mr. Steven S. Sloane. Mr. Sloane has many 

years of experience at VA Headquarters and in the field. 

ADDRESS CHANGES 

If this newsletter has your old address, please use this form 

to update our mailing list. Send the completed form to the 

OIF/OEF Review, Austin Automation Center (200/397A), 

1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX 78772-0001. If you 

have access to the OIF/OEF Review via the VA Web site 

www.va.gov/EnvironAgents and wish to discontinue 

receiving a copy by mail, please complete the above form 

and return it to the Austin Automation Center. If you are 

receiving more than one copy of the newsletter, please let 

us know. Write to the address above. Please provide your 

name, address, and last four digits of your Social Security 

number. Thank you. 

Check or circle the language that describes your situation. 

My address has changed, and I would like to continue to 

receive the newsletter. 

I am receiving more than one copy, but I only want to get 

a single copy. 

I don’t need to get the newsletter by mail as I can read it 

at www.va.gov/EnvironAgents 

Other 

(explain) -----------------------------------------------------------­

You may use this or other paper. Please indicate which 

publication that you are receiving as this office puts 

out 4 national newsletters. 

First Name 

Middle 

Last 

SSN 

(Last four digits only)
 

New Street/RFD/ 

Military Unit
 

APO/FPO
 

Indicate which if
 

applicable
 

City
 

Alpha State/or
 

APO/FPO Code
 

Zip Code
 

8
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

		


 

TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ADVISORS - TRAINED AND 

READY TO SERVE VETERANS 

Last year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and 

the National Guard Bureau teamed up to improve the 

coordination of veterans benefits at the state level by 

training newly created Transition Assistance Advisors 

(TAAs) to help ensure a smooth and seamless transition for 

Guard members returning from active-duty deployments. 

The 54 new National Guard TAAs, hired in each of the 

states and territories, are recently returned veterans who 

will be available to assist their fellow combat veterans. 

“As advocates for veterans, these new advisors will ease 

the transition for newly discharged veterans back to their 

home communities,” said R. James Nicholson, Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs. “We are proud to have our newest 

generation of heroes join with VA to help their fellow 

combat veterans.” 

The new advisors are graduates of a special training program 

at the Veterans Benefits Academy in Baltimore, MD to 

increase their knowledge of VA services and benefits. The 

training enabled them to assist returning combat veterans 

and create coalitions between state veterans affairs offices, 

veterans service organizations, VA and community groups. 

In addition to advising their state’s adjutant general and 

governor, the benefits advisors serve as the statewide 

points of contact providing advice to Guard members, 

their families, the family program office, employer support 

groups and military personnel. 

They also participate in the Reserve and National Guard 

mobilization and demobilization process and provide 

materials on VA benefits, compensation, education, 

vocational rehabilitation, life insurance, home loans, and 

burial benefits. 

Those interested in contacting a TAA in their area should 

contact the Adjutant General National Guard at the 

National Guard joint force Headquarters in each state for 

the contact information of the State TAA and also the State 

Director of Family Programs for assistance. Information 

is also available from VA’s Office of Seamless Transition. 

While there is not currently a single website listing all 

sites nationally, contact information is available state by 

state. Updated information will be published as it becomes 

available. 

WRIISC NATIONAL REFERRAL PROGRAM 

The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) 

at the Washington, DC VA Medical Center and the East 

Orange, NJ VA Medical Center provides post-deployment 

care to combat veterans who have difficult-to-diagnose 

disabling illnesses. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom 

(OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) who are experiencing 

persistent and unexplained symptoms may be referred to the 

WRIISC National Referral Program for a comprehensive 

post-deployment evaluation. 

The WRIISC programs have helped hundreds of veterans 

since opening in 2001. 

The DC WRIISC staff told us that they specialized in 

providingveterans aroadmapformanagingtheirunexplained 

symptoms. Their comprehensive post-deployment clinical 

evaluations focus on symptom presentation and any 

relationship between combat deployment and current health. 

This specialty evaluation serves as a “second opinion” after 

a thorough evaluation has been completed at the local VA 

Medical Center. OIF/OEF veterans may request a referral to 

the WRIISC through their primary care providers. 

Primary care providers may initiate a WRIISC referral by 

completing the following steps: 

1.	 Complete WRIISC Pre-Screen Form (VA Form 

10-0417) which can be found in the WRIISC 

handbook (at www1.va.gov/EnvironAgents/) 

2.	 FAX the completed VA Form 10-0417 and the 

veteran’s DD214 to (202) 273-9562, Attention: 

Ms. Helen Malaskiewicz, Senior Environmental 

Health Coordinator at VA Central Office 

(Telephone: 202-273-8463). 

3.	 Complete WRIISC Assessment Note in the 

veteran’s CPRS medical record. 

Once the Pre-Screen Form is received by Ms. Malaskiewicz 

and combat veteran status is confirmed, the referral will 

be sent to either the Washington D.C. WRIISC or the 

East Orange NJ WRIISC for clinical consideration and 

scheduling. 

If you are an OEF or OIF veteran who is interested in 

a comprehensive “second opinion” post-deployment 

evaluation, please contact your VA primary care provider 

to request a WRIISC evaluation. 

WRIISC TRANSITION AND ORIENTATION CLASS 

The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) 

in Washington, DC has developed a Transition and 

Orientation Class to welcome and orient combat veterans 

to the VA system. The Transition & Orientation Class 

provides information about many topics of interest to 

combat veterans including: 

■		 Explanation of New Eligibility rules for VA Medical 

Care 

9
 
	 	

 

	 	 	 	

	 	

 

	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	 	

	 	

		

		

		

		

		


 

 
 


 

 
 


 

 
 

 
 


 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

■		 Information about Filing or Troubleshooting a Claim 

for Service-Connection 

■		 Overview of the Vocational Rehabilitation & 

Employment Program 

■		 Introduction to the Primary Care System and Referral 

Process 

■		 Information about Vet Center services 

■		 Overview of the services offered by the War Related 

Illness & Injury Study Centers including Assessment 

for Exposures and/or Unexplained Symptoms 

When:
 

The 3rd Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
 

and
 

the 3rd Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
 

Where:
 

Room 3B East 203 Conference Room,
 

Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical
 

Center
 

50 Irving Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20422
 

Phone (202) 745-8000
 

Each class lasts approximately an hour and one half. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about important 

VA benefits. Join us for class and refreshments!! 

If you are interested in this class, please call 

1-800-722-8340 or (202) 745-8000 ext. 6533 or email us 

at wriisc.dc@va.gov for more information on this class. 

Due to space limitations, reservations for this class are 

required. 

We look forward to hearing from you!! 

Driving Directions and Metro Access 

From the East: Route 50 West to New York Avenue, exit 

onto South Dakota Avenue. At 7th traffic light, turn left 

onto Monroe Street. Follow Monroe until it dead ends. 

Go left on Michigan Avenue. Follow right lanes onto 

Irving Street. Get in left lane and make first left. VAMC 

is located to the left. 

From Baltimore & Northern Areas: I-95 Southbound. 

Veer right onto I-495 toward Silver Spring. Leave I-495 

almost immediately at New Hampshire Avenue, exit Route 

650 South. Go south for approximately 4 miles on New 

Hampshire Avenue, then go south on North Capitol Street 

for approximately 2 miles. Exit right onto Irving Street 

Following signs to VAMC. Get in left lane immediately 

and make first left. VAMC is located to the left. 

From theWest: South on 270, then go east on I-495 (go left 

at fork marked “ Washington”), to the Connecticut Avenue 

exit, southbound Route 185. Proceed south on Connecticut 

Avenue for about 3 miles. Turn left onto Military Road for 

approximately 3.5 miles. Turn right at light onto North 

Capitol street. Go approximately 1.5 miles then exit right 

onto Irving Street following signs to VAMC. Get into left 

lane immediately then make first left. VAMC is located to 

the left. 

From Virginia & Southern Areas: Take I-95, Virginia 

Route 1, or Virginia Route 50, to the 14th Street bridge. 

Continue north on 14th Street until you reach Harvard 

Street where you will turn right. Harvard ends at light 

(approximately 2.5 miles). At light, turn left onto Irving 

Street. Stay in middle lane. At 3rd light turn right. VAMC 

is located on the left. 

From Virginia: Take I-95 North to 395 North; take 14 th. 

Street Bridge; Go to New York Ave. and turn right; Go to 

North Capitol Street and turn left; Go to Irving Street and 

follow signs to the VAMC. 

Taking the Metro : Take the Red Line to the Catholic 

University/Brookland Metro Station. Metro Buses H2 and 

H4 will bring you to the VAMC. 

10
 
	 	

 

	 	

 

	 	

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 


 


 

 


 

WHERE TO GET HELP 

Active duty military personnel with questions or concerns about service in Southwest Asia (including Operations 

Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom): Contact your commanding officer or call 

the Department of Defense (DoD) Deployment Health Clinical Center (1-800-796-9699) for information. DoD 

also offers the “Direct Veterans Hotline,” with the toll-free number 1-800-497-6261. 

OIF and OEF veterans with concerns about their health should contact their nearest VA medical center. The 

telephone number can be found in your local telephone directory under Department of Veterans Affairs in the 

“U.S. Government” listings. Medical care is available, and a Gulf War Registry examination is also available on 

request for OIF veterans. 

The Veterans Special Issues Helpline can also provide information and assistance. The toll-free telephone number 

is 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387). 

Check our Web sites for more information on health care and other benefits for veterans who served in Southwest 

Asia at www.va.gov/EnvironAgents. 

OIF and OEF veterans in need of marital/family counseling should contact the nearest VA medical center or VA
 

Vet Center, also listed in your phonebook under Department of Veterans Affairs in the “U.S. Government” listings. 

For additional information about these programs call the Veterans Special Issues Helpline at
 

1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387).
 

OIF and OEF veterans seeking disability compensation for illnesses incurred in or aggravated by military service 

can contact a Veterans Benefits Counselor at the nearest VA regional office or health care facility at 

1-800-827-1000, or call the Veterans Special Issues Helpline at 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387). You can 

also start a claim online at www.va.gov. 

OIF and OEF veterans interested in learning about the wide range of benefit programs administered by VA should 

contact a Veterans Benefits Counselor at the nearest VA regional office or health care facility at 1-800-827-1000, 

or call the Veterans Special Issues Helpline at 1-800-PGW-VETS (1-800-749-8387). 

Representatives of veterans service organizations, including the American Legion (1- 800-433-3318), Veterans 

of Foreign Wars of the United States (1-800-VFW-1899), Disabled American Veterans (1-877-426-2838), have 

been very helpful to veterans who served in Southwest Asia, especially veterans who are seeking disability 

compensation. (These organizations are cited as examples. There are many other excellent organizations. VA 

does not endorse or recommend anyone group over another.) 

County Veterans Service Officers also have been of great help to many military veterans who are seeking benefits 

they earned through their service to the Nation. 

For additional Federal benefit information, see VA’s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet. It 

is updated annually to reflect changes in law and policies. It is available for purchase from the U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, DC 20402, Web site: bookstore.gpo.gov. VA’s World 

Wide Web pages are updated throughout the year to present the most current information. The VA home page 

www.va.gov contains links to selections on compensation and pension benefits, health care benefits and services, 

burial and memorial benefits, and more. 

11
 
Department of

Veterans Affairs 

Central Office (131) 

810 Vermont Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, DC 20420 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

Penalty for private use $300 

/ OPERATIONS IRAQI FREEDOM

ENDURING FREEDOM REVIEW 

Information for Veterans Who 

Served in Iraq and Afghanistan 

and Their Families 

April 2007