What Benefits Are Korean War Veterans Eligible For?
Korean War veterans may be eligible to receive health benefits and disability compensation for prolonged periods of time if they were exposed to dangers that could lead to health complications later in life, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Such dangers include exposure to cold climates and radiation.
Korean War veterans may be eligible to receive benefits available to all veterans, but certain health complications related to wartime injuries and exposure may make them qualified to receive health benefits that healthy Korean War veterans or veterans of other wars may not be qualified for, as stated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Exposure to the cold during wartime may make veterans susceptible to certain ailments, including arthritis, frostbite scars that develop skin cancer and fallen arches. These ailments may plague veterans well into old age. If a veteran has diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, having a cold-related medical condition may put him at a higher risk of needing an amputation later in life, which would make him eligible to receive disability compensation.
Korean War veterans may have been exposed to ionizing radiation during wartime or may have been a part of activities that put them at risk of radiation exposure, such as nuclear weapons testing, states the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans may be compensated for exams that screen for ionizing radiation-related ailments, and they may also receive additional benefits if they develop cancer as a result of exposure.
