Long-Term Health Impacts of Military Blast Exposure on Veterans: Insights from the Millennium Cohort Study

MedXY Editorial Team•Sep 21, 2026•Neurology

High-level blast (HLB) exposure during military service is linked to increased risk of multiple chronic health conditions in Veterans receiving care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Conditions notably associated with HLB include neurologic, cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, and infectious diseases, reflecting widespread systemic effects.
Occupational risk for low-level blast (LLB) exposure showed a paradoxically lower likelihood for several diseases and appeared to attenuate the impact of HLB for most outcomes.
Findings underscore the significance of blast as a long-term occupational health hazard requiring ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions.

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This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

High-level blast (HLB) exposure during military service is linked to increased risk of multiple chronic health conditions in Veterans receiving care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Conditions notably associated with HLB include neurologic, cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, and infectious diseases, reflecting widespread systemic effects.
Occupational risk for low-level blast (LLB) exposure showed a paradoxically lower likelihood for several diseases and appeared to attenuate the impact of HLB for most outcomes.
Findings underscore the significance of blast as a long-term occupational health hazard requiring ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions.