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Mustard gas or lewisite exposure

If you have a health condition caused by exposure to mustard gas or lewisite, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Compensation provides tax-free monthly payments. Keep reading to find out if you may be eligible.

Am I eligible for VA disability compensation?

You may be eligible for disability compensation if you have a disability believed to be caused by contact with mustard gas or lewisite and your military record shows you had contact with mustard gas or lewisite.

Note: If you get a disability rating, you may also be eligible for VA health care and other benefits.

Locations where you may have been exposed to mustard gas or lewisite

These are the known locations of testing or other incidents that may have caused full-body exposure to nitrogen mustard gas, sulfur mustard gas, or lewisite.

If you served during the World War II era in a known testing location during the timeframe when testing occurred and describe the activity that led to your full-body mustard gas or lewisite exposure, we’ll presume you were exposed.

Note: We count your service as World War II era service if you served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946.

If you served in these locations during these timeframes

  • Bari, Italy (on December 2, 1943)

  • Bushnell, FL (during the World War II era)

  • Camp Crowder, MO (during the World War II era)

  • Camp Lejeune, NC (during the World War II era)

  • Camp Polk, LA (during 1943)

  • Camp Sibert (Gadsden), AL (during the World War II era)

  • Camp Wolters/Walters, TX (during 1944)

  • Charleston, SC (during the World War II era)

  • Dry Tortugas, FL (during 1944)

  • Dugway Proving Ground, UT (during the World War II era)

  • Edgewood Arsenal, MD (during the World War II era)

  • Eglin Field, FL (during 1943)

  • Finschhafen, New Guinea (during the World War II era)

  • Fort Clayton, San Jose Island, Panama (during the World War II era)

  • Fort Detrick, MD (during the World War II era)

  • Fort Dix, NJ (during 1942)

  • Fort McClellan, AL (during the World War II era)

  • Fort Meade, MD (during 1943)

  • Fort Pierce, FL (during 1944)

  • Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL (during the World War II era)

  • Hart’s Island, NY (during the World War II era)

  • Hichinbrook Island, Queensland, Australia (during 1944)

  • Horn Island Installation, MS (during the World War II era)

  • Huntsville (Redstone) Arsenal, AL (during the World War II era)

  • Isle M’BA, New Caledonia (during 1943)

  • Naval Research Laboratory, DC, VA, MD (during the World War II era)

  • Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, MD (during the World War II era)

  • Ondal, India (during the World War II era)

  • Porton Down, England (during the World War II era)

  • Rocky Mountain Arsenal, CO (during the World War II era)

  • Tooele Army Depot, UT (during the World War II era)

  • USS Eagle Boat No. 58 (during the World War II era)

What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?

To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition.

But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”

We consider a condition presumptive when it’s established by law or regulation.

If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

What if my active-duty service location isn’t listed here?

You can still apply for disability compensation. If your service location isn’t listed here, you’ll need to submit more evidence to show how you were exposed and how your condition connects to your mustard gas or lewisite exposure.

Learn more about what evidence you’ll need to submit

How do I file a claim for compensation?

You can file a claim online now. You can also file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional.

File for disability compensation online

Learn about other ways to file a disability compensation claim

Note: You have to claim an actual disease or disability. It’s not enough to state that you were exposed to mustard gas or lewisite during service. You’ll need to apply based on the illnesses believed to be caused by your contact with 1 of these chemicals. When you send in your claim, be sure to share any military records that show you had contact with blistering agents.

What if I need help filing my disability claim?

If you have questions about benefits related to mustard gas exposure, you can email us at mustardgas@vba.va.gov.

You can also get help from an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.

Get help filing a claim

Can I get benefits if I volunteered for research involving chemical and biological testing?

As many as 60,000 Veterans volunteered for medical research for the U.S. Biological and Chemical Programs. If you were involved in this research, you can get medical care through the U.S. Army if you meet both of these requirements.

Both of these must be true:

  • You volunteered for research involving chemical and biological testing between 1942 and 1975, and
  • You have an injury or disease directly caused by your participation in this testing

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