Veteran Benefits by Service Era

Gulf War-Era veteran benefits

Aug 2, 1990 – present (Southwest Asia theater)

Gulf War-era veterans (1990-onward in Southwest Asia theater) qualify for "Gulf War Illness" presumptive benefits + a separate set of presumptive infectious diseases.
Era dates
Aug 2, 1990 – present (Southwest Asia theater)
Cohort size
~3.8 million U.S. veterans served in the qualifying era
Healthcare
No specific free-care window beyond standard Priority Group rules.

Operations + qualifying service

Era-specific presumptive conditions

GI Bill / education benefits

Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) for those who opted in; later upgraded to Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) eligibility for those still in service post-9/11.

Key resources

Gulf War IllnessChronic Fatigue Syndrome (Gulf War presumptive)Fibromyalgia (Gulf War presumptive)
In crisis? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 confidential, federally-operated. Available regardless of era, character of service, or VA enrollment status.

Other service eras

Post-9/11 / Global War on Terror — Sept 11, 2001 – presentVietnam War-Era — Aug 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 (combat zone); 1961-1975 (full era)Korean War-Era — Jun 27, 1950 – Jan 31, 1955World War II-Era — Dec 7, 1941 – Dec 31, 1946Cold War-Era (between named conflicts) — 1955-1964, 1975-1990 (between Korea and Vietnam, between Vietnam and Gulf War)Peacetime / Non-Wartime Service — Various — service entirely outside named-conflict erasCurrently Active / Recently Separated — Within ~1-12 months of separation OR currently active duty