TL;DR — Quick Summary
- What TERA does: Presumes you were exposed to toxins based on when, where, and what you did in service
- What TERA does NOT do: Automatically grant service-connection for any condition
- What you get: A C&P exam with a TERA medical opinion if you have a diagnosis or claim symptoms
- You MUST claim: The condition you believe was caused by exposure — NOT the exposure itself
- NG/Reserve: Exposures during unconverted NG/Reserve service are NOT eligible
What is TERA?
Depending on when, where, and what you did in service, the VA will presume you were exposed to certain toxins.
Critical: TERA Does NOT Equal Service-Connection
This presumption of exposure under 38 U.S. Code § 1119 does NOT in and of itself grant service-connection!
What it DOES do is entitle you to a C&P examination with a TERA medical opinion, so long as you have a diagnosis or claim a symptom.
Important Notes
- This entitlement does NOT automatically apply to diagnosable physical or mental conditions. You NEED medical evidence to support your belief.
- Hearing loss and Tinnitus are NOT considered physical conditions for this purpose.
- Do NOT claim your exposure(s)! An exposure is NOT a disability! You MUST claim what you think your exposure caused.
- The claimed condition(s) need NOT have started in service!
- Exposures during (unconverted) National Guard or Reserve service CANNOT be considered under TERA. See NG/Reserve eligibility for more info.
Agent Orange Negative Associations
The Secretary of the VA has determined that the following conditions have NO association with Agent Orange. If the only TERA exposure is AO, the VA CANNOT get a TERA medical opinion for these conditions:
Cancers with NO Agent Orange Association
- Bone and connective tissues
- Brain
- Digestive (anus, colorectal, esophageal, small intestines, stomach)
- Endocrine (including thyroid and thymus)
- Eye
- Hepatobiliary (bile ducts, gallbladder, liver)
- Leukemia (other than chronic B-cell leukemias, hairy-cell leukemia, CLL)
- Melanoma
- Mouth (including lips and tongue)
- Nervous system
- Nonmelanoma (basal cell and squamous cell)
- Pancreatic
- Pleura, mediastinum, other unspecified respiratory/intrathoracic sites
- Pharynx
- Reproductive (breast, cervix, ovary, penis, testes, uterus) — excluding prostate
Non-Cancers with NO Agent Orange Association
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Circulatory conditions (other than hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke)
- Endometriosis
- Eye diseases
- Farmer's lung
- Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and digestive disorders
- Hearing loss
- Immune system disorders (immune suppression, allergy, autoimmunity)
- Neurobehavioral disorders (cognitive and neuropsychiatric)
- Neurodegenerative diseases (excluding Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism)
- Osteoporosis
- Peripheral nervous system disorders (besides early-onset peripheral neuropathy)
How to Document Your Exposures
When you file your claim, identify (to the best of your ability):
- What toxins you were exposed to (JP8, industrial solvents, etc.)
- How you were exposed (MOS duties, deployment, etc.)
- How you interacted with the toxin(s) (touched, drank, inhaled)
- How often you were exposed (daily, monthly, etc.)
- Duration of exposures
- Protective equipment used (or not used)
Personal Statement Example
"As an aircraft mechanic in the Navy I was exposed daily for 5 years to jet fuel, engine exhaust, oil, and solvents. When I worked, I was not provided any protective equipment. It was not unusual for me to spend hours covered from head to toe in these toxins and for my hands to develop cuts which were of course also covered in these toxins. I believe that rashes that cover my body are due to my toxic exposures."
VA Cannot Assume Exposures
VA CANNOT assume MOS/duty exposures (besides Navy asbestos)! If your MOS was a fuel handler or mechanic, the VA CANNOT assume you were exposed to anything.
You MUST state what you were exposed to. If the exposure wouldn't be obvious to someone unfamiliar with your job, explain how it happened. Support non-standard exposures with personnel records, medical records, or buddy statements.
Presumed Exposure Locations
If you served in these locations during these times, you are considered to have been exposed to toxins:
On or After August 2, 1990
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- United Arab Emirates
On or After September 11, 2001
- Afghanistan
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Yemen
- Uzbekistan
Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) Exposures
There are currently NO exposures that have been officially linked to certain MOSs (besides Navy and asbestos).
HOWEVER, if your MOS involved handling fuels, solvents, asbestos (construction, demolition, shipyards), or PFAS (firefighting), you can indicate on your claim what you were exposed to and how that exposure occurred.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health risks if inhaled. Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases, such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain, often do not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure.
Routes of exposure:
- Veterans who served in Iraq and other countries could have been exposed when older buildings were damaged and asbestos released into the air.
- Work in: carpentry, construction, demolition, insulation installation, shipyards, and servicing friction products (clutch facings, brake linings)
Common Asbestos-Related Diseases
Navy MOS Asbestos Exposure Probability
The VA has compiled a list of Navy MOSs with their likelihood of asbestos exposure:
| MOS Code | Job Title | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| AA | Airman Apprentice | Minimal |
| ABE | Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Launch & Rec Equip) | Probable |
| ABF | Aviation Boatswain's Mate | Probable |
| ABH | Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handler) | Probable |
| AC | Air Traffic Controller | Minimal |
| ACM | Aviation Chief Metalsmith | Probable |
| ADJ | Aviation Machinist's Mate (Jet Engine Mechanic) | Probable |
| ADR | Aviation Machinist's Mate | Probable |
| AE | Aviation Electrician's Mate | Probable |
| AFCM | Aircraft Maintenanceman (Master Chief) | Minimal |
| AG | Aerographer's Mate | Minimal |
| AK | Aviation Storekeeper | Minimal |
| AM | Aviation Structural Mechanic | Probable |
| AME | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) | Probable |
| AMH | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulics) | Probable |
| AMS | Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structural) | Probable |
| AN | Airman | Minimal |
| AO | Aviation Ordnanceman | Minimal |
| AQ | Aviation Fire Control Technician | Highly Probable |
| AR | Airman Recruit | Minimal |
| ARM | Aviation Radioman | Probable |
| AS | Aviation Support Equipment Technician | Probable |
| AT | Aviation Electronic Technician | Probable |
| AW | Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator | Probable |
| AX | Aviation Antisub Warfare Technician | Probable |
| AZ | Aviation Maintenance Administrationman | Minimal |
| B | Boilermaker (WWII) | Highly Probable |
| BM | Boatswain's Mate | Minimal |
| BR | Boilermaker | Highly Probable |
| BT | Boiler Technician | Highly Probable |
| BU | Builder | Probable |
| CD | Construction Driver | Probable |
| CE | Construction Electrician | Probable |
| CM | Construction Mechanic | Minimal |
| CN | Constructionman | Probable |
| COX | Coxswain | Minimal |
| CS | Commissaryman | Minimal |
| CT | Communication Technician | Minimal |
| CTR | Cryptologic Technician (Collections) | Minimal |
| DC | Damage Controlman | Minimal |
| DK | Disbursing Clerk | Minimal |
| DP | Data Processing Technician | Minimal |
| DS | Data System Technician | Minimal |
| DT | Dental Technician | Minimal |
| EM | Electrician's Mate | Probable |
| EN | Engineman | Probable |
| EO | Equipment Operator | Minimal |
| ET | Electronics Technician | Probable |
| FC | Fire Controlman | Highly Probable |
| FN | Fireman | Highly Probable |
| FP | Pipefitter | Highly Probable |
| FT | Fire Control Technician | Highly Probable |
| FTG | Fire Control Technician (Guns) | Highly Probable |
| GM | Gunner's Mate | Minimal |
| GSM | Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) | Probable |
| HC | Hospital Corpsman | Minimal |
| HN | Hospitalman | Minimal |
| HT | Hull Maintenance Technician | Highly Probable |
| IC | Interior Communication Technician | Probable |
| IM | Instrumentman | Highly Probable |
| LI | Lithographer | Minimal |
| MA | Master-At-Arms | Minimal |
| MLC | Molder | Probable |
| MM | Machinist Mate | Probable |
| MME | Metalsmith | Minimal |
| MN | Mineman | Minimal |
| MOMM | Motor Machinist Mate | Probable |
| MR | Machinery Repairman | Minimal |
| MS | Mess Management Specialist | Minimal |
| MT | Missile Technician | Probable |
| MU | Musician | Minimal |
| NC | Navy Counselor | Minimal |
| OM | Opticalman | Minimal |
| OSPC | Operations Specialist | Minimal |
| PC | Postal Clerk | Minimal |
| PH | Photographer's Mate | Minimal |
| PHM | Pharmacist | Minimal |
| PN | Personnelman | Minimal |
| PRTR | Printer | Minimal |
| PT | Photographic Intelligenceman | Minimal |
| PTR | Painter | Probable |
| QM | Quartermaster | Minimal |
| RD | Radarman | Minimal |
| RM | Radioman | Minimal |
| RN | Radarman | Minimal |
| SA | Seaman Apprentice | Minimal |
| SC | Ship's Cook | Minimal |
| SD | Stewart | Minimal |
| SF | Shipfitter | Minimal |
| SFM | Shipfitter (Metal Smith) | Minimal |
| SFP | Shipfitter (Pipefitter) | Minimal |
| SH | Ship's Serviceman | Minimal |
| SK | Storekeeper | Minimal |
| SM | Signalman | Minimal |
| SN | Seaman | Minimal |
| SO | Sonarman | Highly Probable |
| SOM | Soundman | Highly Probable |
| ST | Sonar Technician | Highly Probable |
| STG/SOG | Sonar Technician (Surface) | Highly Probable |
| STS | Sonar Technician (Submarine) | Highly Probable |
| STM | Steward's Mate | Minimal |
| SW | Steelworker | Probable |
| TA | Stewart Apprentice | Minimal |
| TD | Trademan | Minimal |
| TE | Teletype | Minimal |
| TM | Torpedoman's Mate | Probable |
| TN | Stewardsman | Minimal |
| UT | Utilitiesman | Highly Probable |
| WT | Water Tender | Highly Probable |
| Y | Yeoman | Minimal |
Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER)
ILER is a report that contains exposures that DoD has identified you as being exposed to.
The VA will use this report along with your Service Treatment and Personnel Records to create a TERA Memo. This memo will be used by the examiner to help determine if your condition(s) are related to your exposures during service.
Earlier Effective Dates (Liberalizing Law)
If a condition is granted based on TERA exposures, the VA can grant an earlier effective date if ALL of the following criteria are met:
- Exposure(s) happened on or before August 10, 2022; AND
- Condition was diagnosed on or before August 10, 2022
If both conditions are met, the VA can assign an effective date up to ONE YEAR before the claim was initiated (but no sooner than August 10, 2022).
For more information on effective dates, see our Effective Dates guide.
Additional Exposure Resources
Here are some resources to help identify toxic exposures you may have been exposed to:
Cite Your Sources
If you use any external resource as a reference for any exposure, be sure to cite it and explain your exposure! The person working your claim likely won't be checking these resources.