Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation
251 published decisions mention Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Most of them are deciding other claims at the same time, so the table below is narrower on purpose: it counts only the 125 individual issues where the claim itself was tied to this exposure. This is a non-presumptive agent, the medical link must be proven case by case, so these Board rulings are the roadmap.
What the Board has tied to Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation
Each row: a condition claimed as related to Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation, how many issues the Board ruled on, and the granted / denied / remanded split. Click a condition to see its code page, criteria, and the decisions.
What these numbers count: 251 decisions MENTION Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation; of the issues inside them, 125 were actually tied to this exposure, and 49 of those appear in the table. An issue the Board decided under two conditions appears in both rows, so the rows add up to 53. A further 50 conditions came up too few times to chart (fewer than 5 issues each, 76 issues in total) and are not listed, because a single case cannot show a pattern.
| Condition | Issues | Granted | Denied | Rem. | Grant % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system DC 7528 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 47% |
| Cataract DC 6027 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 9% |
| Neoplasms, malignant, any specified part of respiratory system exclusive of skin growths DC 6819 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | – |
| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma DC 7715 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – |
| Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa, wet or dry macular degeneration, early-onset macular degeneration, rod and/or cone dystrophy) DC 6042 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – |
| Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension) DC 7101 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – |
Read the Board decisions that mention Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation ↗
What the science says about Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation
Radar and other radiofrequency (RF) / microwave equipment emit non-ionizing radiation, also written as radio frequency radiation, RF radiation, RFR, or electromagnetic (EMF) radiation. Radar, radio, and electronic-warfare technicians work near high-power emitters. This is distinct from ionizing radiation (which has its own presumptive pathway).
Health effects documented in the toxicology literature
- Thermal: The best-established RF effect at high intensity is tissue heating (burns, cataract risk at very high exposure).
- Under study: Non-thermal and long-term health effects of RF exposure remain under scientific study and are not settled.
Cancer classification: IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.
Latency: Uncertain; the evidence base is still developing.
Common questions
Is Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation a presumptive exposure?
No. Unlike Agent Orange, burn pits, or Camp Lejeune, Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation carries no automatic (presumptive) service connection. You have to prove the medical link yourself, usually with a nexus opinion, which is exactly why how the Board has ruled on it matters.
Why do so many of these conditions show denials?
The granted / denied counts reflect the mix of cases where Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation comes up and how hard each link is to prove, not the merit of any one claim. A denial often means the file lacked a medical opinion tying the condition to the exposure, or proof of the exposure itself, not that the condition can never be connected.
How do I show I was exposed to Radar / radiofrequency (RF) radiation?
Service records, your military job (MOS), unit history, and buddy statements can establish the exposure; a medical opinion then connects it to the diagnosed condition. This page reports Board outcomes and is not legal or medical advice, a VSO representative can help with your specific case.
Related Tools and Guides
RateMyVSO. Educational aggregate of published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions plus public-domain toxicology (ATSDR). Not affiliated with the VA. Not legal or medical advice. Whether any exposure caused any condition in a specific case is a medical and legal question, a VSO representative can help.