Mustard Gas and Lewisite
(Chemical Agents)
Congress has recognized that Veterans who had FULL BODY exposure to these agents are more susceptible to developing certain diseases.
Eligibility
Veteran's military records MUST indicate that had contact with the agents.
Here are a list of locations that the DoD have identified as having these agents stored/tested. The following list is NOT all inclusive. Some American service members may have participated in Allied mustard agent testing in Finschhafen, New Guinea, and Porton Down, England. Additionally Veterans may have been exposed during the manufacturing, handling, or destruction of vesicant agents during military service, or demolished or handled explosive ordinance while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Army
Bari, Italy Bushnell, FL Camp Lejeune, NC Camp Sibert, AL Dugway Proving Ground, UT Edgewood Arsenal, MD Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC Ondal, India Rocky Mountain Arsenal, CO San Jose Island, Panama Canal Zone
Merchant Marine
Bari, Italy.
Navy
Bari, Italy Camp Lejeune, NC Charleston, SC Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL Hart’s Island, NY Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, MD Naval Research Laboratory, VA Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC USS Eagle Boat 58
Diseases
The Veteran may develop any of these diseases at any point before their death.
RED = Disease is presumptive ONLY for nitrogen mustard gas exposure.
BLUE = Disease is NOT presumptive for Lewisite exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sometimes the VBA makes a mistake or they are missing evidence that would indicate you are an eligible Veteran with a diagnosed condition. If this happens, it is strongly recommended that you seek out the assistance of a VSO to help you file an Appeal.
Additionally,
If there is documentation that during service the Veteran's exposure was due to their own willful misconduct or that after the Veteran's separation there was a supervening condition or event that was more than likely the etiology of the disease, the Veteran may be denied service-connection.