Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials 
Find out if you can get disability compensation monthly payments and other benefits for illnesses or other conditions, like the ones listed below. These are illnesses and conditions we believe may be caused by contact with harmful chemicals or other hazardous materials while serving in the military. 

Medical care for volunteers involved in chemical and biological testing 
As many as 60,000 Veterans volunteered for medical research for the U.S. biological and chemical programs between 1942 and 1975. You can get medical care through the U.S. Army if you volunteered for this research and have an injury or illness directly caused by your participation. If you have questions or need help getting medical care : Visit the U.S. Army web page , or Call 800 - 984 - 8523 Agent OrangeIf you served in the Republic of Vietnam or in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone DMZ during the Vietnam Era or in certain related jobs you may have had contact with Agent Orange, an herbicide used to clear plants and trees during the war. AsbestosIf you worked in certain military jobs , you may have had contact with asbestos toxic fibers once used in many buildings and products. Birth defects like spina bifidaIf you served in the Republic of Vietnam, in Thailand, or in or near the DMZ during the Vietnam Era and your child has spina bifida or certain other birth defects your child may be eligible for disability benefits. Contact with mustard gas or lewisiteIf you served at the German bombing of Bari, Italy, in World War II or worked in certain other jobs , you may have had contact with mustard gas. Contaminated drinking water at Camp LejeuneIf you served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River between August 1953 and December 1987 , you may be at risk for certain illnesses believed to be caused by contaminants found in the drinking water during that time. Gulf War IllnessIf you served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations , you may be at risk of 

user: Hello, I have some questions about being exposed to dangerous chemicals.

assistant: Of course. We can find out if you can get disability compensation monthly payments and other benefits for illnesses or other conditions, like the ones listed below. These are illnesses and conditions we believe may be caused by contact with harmful chemicals or other hazardous materials while serving in the military.

user: Do you offer medical care for veterans who volunteered for medical research?

assistant: Yes. Are you a Veteran who volunteered for medical research for the U.S. biological and chemical programs between 1942 and 1975?

user: No, not during these years.

user: Where can I find information about this topic?

assistant: Simply visit the U.S. Army web page, or call 800-984-8523.

user: I wrote it down. Now back to our conversation, what if I had volunteered during the years you mentioned? Would I have gotten benefits?

assistant: Yes. In that case, you could get medical care through the U.S. Army, provided you volunteered for this research and have an injury or illness directly caused by your participation.

user: Alright. Where can I find more information about this?

assistant: Simply visit the U.S. Army web page, or call 800-984-8523.

user: The same places you mentioned before, I understand. What if I served in Afghanistan? Surely this must be addressed somehow.

assistant: If you served in Afghanistan, you may be at risk of certain illnesses or other conditions linked to this region.