The Silent Battle: How Lupus Impacts Military Service Members and Veterans

rosetakelli
1 day ago
4 min read

For those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military, the diagnosis of lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - SLE) introduces a unique and difficult set of challenges. Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues, is difficult for anyone to manage. For military personnel, this illness clashes directly with the demands of service, deployment, and the subsequent transition to veteran life.

Evidence suggests that military personnel may be at an increased risk for lupus due to exposures common in service, and the disease often complicates the ability to continue serving and secure post-service benefits.

🚨 Risk Factors Unique to Military Service

While the exact cause of lupus is unknown, it’s understood to be triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Several exposures inherent to military life may act as potential triggers:

Extreme Stress: The high-stress nature of military life, training, and combat deployments is a well-known flare trigger for lupus. Chronic or severe stress can dysregulate the immune system, potentially leading to the onset or exacerbation of autoimmune disorders. Research even shows a link between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a higher risk of autoimmune diseases like lupus.
UV Light Exposure: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is one of the most common and powerful triggers for lupus flares. Extensive time spent outdoors during training and deployment, particularly in sunny, desert, or tropical environments, significantly increases this risk.
Environmental Contaminants: Service members often face exposure to contaminants like silica dust (common in desert environments or during engineering tasks), pesticides, and chemicals. These substances have been studied as potential environmental risk factors that contribute to immune system dysfunction. Many veterans have questioned whether exposure to "Agent Orange" had a potential association, particularly in those who experienced high levels of stress and exposure to the environmental toxin.

A Disproportionate Burden

Lupus is known to disproportionately affect women and people of color, particularly those of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent. As the U.S. military becomes more diverse, especially with more women and minorities in active-duty roles, the number of service members affected by this disease has also grown, making it a critical force health concern. In the active-duty community, nearly 7 out of 10 lupus patients are female.

🩺 Impact on Service and Medical Discharge

A lupus diagnosis presents an immediate conflict with the military's physical readiness requirements:

Symptoms vs. Mission: Lupus symptoms—including severe fatigue, debilitating joint pain, cognitive fog, and fever—directly undermine the physical and mental acuity required for mission execution.
Controlling Flares: The primary treatments for lupus, such as immunosuppressants and high-dose steroids, can also temporarily impact a service member’s ability to deploy or perform high-risk duties due to increased risk of infection.
Medical Evaluation Board (MEB): While not every lupus diagnosis results in automatic discharge, the severity and stability of the disease often lead to a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). If the condition is determined to be too severe or unpredictable, the service member may face medical separation or retirement, ending their military career prematurely.

🏛️ Navigating VA Disability Claims

For veterans living with lupus, securing a service-connected disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a crucial step for accessing necessary care and compensation.

Establishing Service Connection: Lupus is classified as a chronic disease which may qualify for a presumption of service connection if it manifests to a degree of $10\%$ or more within one year of discharge from active service. If symptoms appeared later, veterans must provide medical evidence (a "nexus statement") linking the onset or aggravation of the disease to their time in service.
The Rating Scale: The VA rates systemic lupus based on the severity and frequency of exacerbations (flare-ups) and the degree of health impairment. Secondary conditions caused by lupus, such as kidney damage, heart conditions, or complications from long-term steroid use (like osteoporosis), are often rated separately and can increase the veteran's total compensation.
Meticulous Documentation: Success in a claim relies heavily on meticulous documentation, including detailed records of symptoms during service, post-service medical records, and expert medical opinions that connect the disease to their military experience.

The military community’s unique experiences with lupus underscore the need for continued research into environmental triggers and dedicated resources to support service members and veterans battling this chronic, invisible disease.

Compiled By:

Kelli (Casas) Roseta

**All resources provided by this blog are for informational purposes only, not to replace the advice of a medical professional. Kelli encourages you to always contact your medical provider with any specific questions or concerns regarding your illness. All intellectual property and content on this site and in this blog is owned by morethanlupus.com. This includes materials protected by copyright, trademark, or patent laws. Copyright, More Than Lupus 2025.