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If you served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), you may be entitled to various VA benefits and healthcare resources.
These missions were two of the most significant U.S. military operations of the 21st century, spanning Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations in support of the Global War on Terror.
In this post, we’ll break down what it means to be an OIF or OEF veteran, highlight the top 10 OIF and OEF veteran benefits, and explain how to secure what you rightfully deserve.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom were large-scale U.S. military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan that spanned from 2001 into the 2010s.
- OIF and OEF veterans may be eligible to receive certain VA benefits, including Federal Hiring Preference, Aid and Attendance Allowance, and Mental Health Support.
- If you served in the Iraq War, you may face health risks from environmental exposures, combat injuries, infectious diseases, occupational hazards, and preventive medications.
What is an OEF Veteran?
An OEF veteran is someone who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) any time after October 7, 2001.
OEF veterans are at higher risk for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) due to blast exposures, roadside bombs, and other combat-related incidents in Afghanistan.
Many OEF veterans living with TBI experience lasting symptoms like headaches, memory loss, and mood changes, which may qualify them for VA disability benefits and specialized treatment programs.
What is an OIF Veteran?
An OIF veteran is someone who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), which ran from March 2003 to August 2010, before transitioning to Operation New Dawn that lasted until December 2011. This operation focused on combat and stability efforts in Iraq.
If you’re an Iraqi Freedom veteran, you may also qualify under later phases of the mission, such as Operation New Dawn.
See More: OIF Veteran Benefits Guide
List of OEF and OIF Veteran Benefits
As an OEF or OIF veteran, you may qualify for the following benefits. Remember, eligibility rules apply, and it’s best to contact the VA with questions.
If you have a service-connected disability, you may qualify for additional benefits not listed below.
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Pro Tip: Many OEF/OIF veterans may not realize they are eligible for multiple benefits simultaneously. For example, you may use education benefits to retrain, employment services to land a job, and VA healthcare to manage service-related conditions, all at the same time.
1. VA Disability Compensation
Veterans with a 10%-100% VA disability rating are entitled to tax-free monthly compensation.
The higher your VA disability rating, the more VA compensation and benefits you’ll receive.
For example, a 10% VA rating is worth more than $175 per month, while a 100% VA rating is worth more than $3,800 per month, tax-free!
The amount is adjusted annually for inflation and can increase if you have dependents.
View the VA pay chart
Calculate your VA monthly compensation here: VA Disability Calculator
2. Education and Training Benefits
VA education benefits provide support with tuition costs, school or training program selection, and career counseling. These benefits are available to veterans, service members, and eligible family members.
Examples of benefits include:
View the Highest Paying Jobs for Veterans HERE.
3. Mental Health Support
OEF and OIF veterans often face invisible wounds of war, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA provides comprehensive mental health services tailored to your unique needs.
Eligible veterans have access to free or low-cost counseling, therapy, medications, and specialized treatment programs.
Do you need to talk to someone right now? To connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime, day or night:
- Call 988 and select 1
- Text 838255
4. VA Healthcare
OEF and OIF veterans often qualify for enhanced VA healthcare. VA healthcare covers routine checkups, specialist visits, home health services, elder care, medical equipment, prosthetics, and prescriptions.
You can apply for and manage these benefits to get the care you’ve earned.
Learn More: VA Health Care and Other Insurance
5. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support
The VA offers specialized care and rehabilitation for TBI, a common injury among OEF and OIF veterans.
Services include therapy, cognitive and physical rehabilitation, and mental health support to manage symptoms like memory loss, headaches, and mood changes.
Veterans with service-connected TBI may also qualify for VA disability compensation.
Learn More About TBI Disability Benefits: VA Rating Scale for TBI
6. VA Home Loan Guarantee
The VA Home Loan Program helps veterans, service members, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. With this benefit, you can buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal use.
Unlike traditional loans, VA home loans are issued by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies, but backed by the VA.
This guarantee reduces the lender’s risk, which means you may qualify for better terms, lower interest rates, and no down payment in many cases.
Learn More: Veterans Home Loans
7. Federal Hiring Preference
Federal jobs offer stability, great benefits, and a strong career path. As an OEF/OIF veteran, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference in the federal hiring process.
If eligible, you can receive a 10-point preference during the federal job application process, which may give you an advantage over non-veteran applicants.
8. VA Life Insurance
VA life insurance programs help veterans protect their families and finances.
Examples include:
- Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) – Life insurance coverage for active-duty service members, providing affordable protection for your family while you serve.
- Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) – Allows veterans to convert SGLI coverage to renewable term life insurance after separation from service.
- Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) – Optional coverage for spouses and dependent children of service members with SGLI.
9. Burial Plot Allowance
The VA helps honor your service even after death by easing the financial burden on your family. The burial plot allowance is a payment made to cover the cost of a gravesite in a private cemetery if you’re not buried in a national cemetery.
10. Aid and Attendance Allowance
If you need help with daily activities like dressing, bathing, or eating, you may qualify for Aid and Attendance. This monthly benefit is added to your VA pension and provides extra financial assistance for veterans who require personal care.
Learn More: How to Get Aid and Attendance Approval
Health Risks Linked to Iraq War Service
If you served in the Iraq War, you may face unique health risks tied to your deployment. These risks come from the environment, combat-related injuries, and even preventive medications used during service.
Here’s a look at what factors during your service may have put you at risk.
| Environmental Exposures | Sand, dust, and particulates; burn pit smoke; depleted uranium |
| Climate & Injuries | Extreme cold (frostbite complications, skin cancer risk); extreme heat (heat stroke, exhaustion, sunburn); toxic embedded fragments; explosions (concussions, TBI); noise (hearing loss, tinnitus) |
| Infectious Diseases | Malaria, brucellosis, campylobacter jejuni, Q fever, tuberculosis, nontyphoid salmonella, shigella, visceral leishmaniasis, West Nile Virus; rabies from animal bites/exposure |
| Occupational Hazards | Chemicals, paints, radiation, and other job-related toxins |
| Medications | Mefloquine (Lariam®) – possible neurological and psychiatric side effects |
Many of these are covered under the PACT Act and may be presumptive conditions for VA disability. If you have an illness or injury related to your military service, you can file a VA claim to seek benefits and compensation.
You will need to provide a current medical diagnosis, proof of an in-service injury or illness, and a link connecting your condition and military service.
Related: Maximizing Your PACT Act Compensation
Learn More: How to File a PACT Act Claim Online (23-Step Tutorial)
What Should You Do Next?
If you served in OIF or OEF and are concerned about health issues linked to your deployment, there are several essential steps to take.
Start by talking to your doctor or VA environmental health coordinator about any symptoms or exposures you may have experienced.
You can also undergo testing for specific risks, such as embedded fragments or depleted uranium, and enroll in VA registries like the Gulf War Registry or the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry to document exposures.
Finally, learn how the PACT Act may expand your eligibility and explore VA disability compensation, which provides monthly tax-free payments for service-connected conditions.
Conclusion
Your service in OEF or OIF came with challenges, risks, and sacrifices, and you deserve to know exactly what benefits are available to you.
From healthcare and disability compensation to education and employment support, the VA provides multiple resources to help you transition, heal, and thrive after service.
If you believe your deployment has impacted your health, don’t wait; talk to your VA provider, enroll in exposure registries, and explore filing a VA claim. Many OEF and OIF veterans qualify for benefits they aren’t yet using.
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(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
Do OEF and OIF veterans qualify for the PACT Act?
Yes. The PACT Act expanded eligibility for veterans exposed to burn pits, toxic substances, and Gulf War-related hazards. Many OEF and OIF veterans now qualify for presumptive conditions and easier access to VA benefits.
What disabilities affect OEF and OIF veterans?
Common disabilities of OEF and OIF veterans include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), hearing loss and tinnitus, Gulf War illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, and respiratory conditions linked to burn pits and environmental exposures.
Am I an OEF/OIF veteran?
You’re considered an OEF/OIF veteran if you served on active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq). Your eligibility isn’t limited to combat roles; service in direct support of these missions also counts.
What is the difference between an OEF vs. OIF veteran?
OIF veterans served in Iraq between March 2003 and December 2011, focusing on combat operations and stabilization efforts. OEF veterans served in Afghanistan any time after October 7, 2001, as part of the mission to combat terrorism.
How do I file a claim for OEF or OIF-related conditions?
You can file a VA claim online, by mail, via fax, or in person at a VA regional office. Make sure to include medical evidence and deployment history to strengthen your claim.
Author
Kelly Olone
Kelly Olone is a military spouse who earned her degree in Psychology from Florida International University. After working in the non-profit sector for several years, she turned to her passion for writing. She aims to contribute to a better understanding of the valuable benefits that veterans deserve. As a mom, Kelly navigates the delicate balance between deadlines and bedtime stories with finesse.
