Heat-Injury Residuals

What Heat injury is

• Heat stroke (core temp >40°C with CNS dysfunction) — the most severe heat injury.
• Heat exhaustion progressing to acute kidney injury.
• Exertional rhabdomyolysis associated with heat events.
• Residuals: persistent heat intolerance, exercise limitation, recurrent rhabdomyolysis vulnerability, renal residuals, possible long-term cardiovascular effects.

Who was exposed

• Service members deployed to high-heat environments (Southwest Asia, Africa Command).
• Trainees and instructors at hot-climate training installations (Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Twentynine Palms, Parris Island).
• Soldiers in heavy MOPP/body armor configurations.

Recognized conditions & VA framework

• Heat-injury residuals are typically rated by analogy under the affected body system (renal, cardiovascular, autonomic).
• Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis with cold/heat trigger.
• Chronic kidney disease secondary to heat-related AKI.
• Mental-health sequelae (PTSD secondary to near-death heat event) — separately ratable.

Evidence to gather

• Service medical records documenting the heat event (line-of-duty determination, hospital records, evacuation paperwork).
• Treating-provider records of persistent heat intolerance or related residuals.
• Renal function testing.
• Buddy statements describing the heat event and the veteran's recovery.

Claim path

1. File as direct service connection citing the original heat-injury event.
2. Rate residuals by their organ system (renal, autonomic, cardiovascular).
3. Add secondary mental-health claim if applicable.

Authoritative reference

VA Public Health publishes its own overview of this exposure. Use it as a citation in your claim narrative: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/heat-injuries/index.asp

Where these claims break down

• ×Filing only for 'heat exhaustion' without specifying the persistent residuals.
• ×Not pulling the line-of-duty determination or hospital records from the original event.

Frequently Asked Questions