Eligible Periods of War
An eligible war period, as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), refers to specific timeframes of military conflicts that qualify a Veteran for VA benefits like pensions.
These periods are established by law or presidential proclamation and include major conflicts like World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, and the Gulf War.
Veterans must have served at least 90 days of active duty* with at least 1 day during an eligible wartime period to meet the pension eligibility requirements.
Service Dates for Eligible Wartime Periods
| War Period | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| World War II | December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946 | Extended to July 25, 1947, for Veterans in service on December 31, 1946. |
| Korean Conflict | June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955 | |
| Vietnam Era | February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 | For Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam. |
| Vietnam Era | August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 | For Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam. |
| Gulf War | August 2, 1990 – Present | End date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation. |
Did you or a loved one serve in Vietnam?
When applying for Agent Orange VA disability compensation, the VA now recognizes more qualifying service locations in addition to Vietnam, including Guam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as ships operating off the coast of Vietnam (Blue Water Navy and Brown Water Navy).
*Active Duty: Full-time military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.
Periods of Active Duty for Training (ADT) or service in the Reserves or National Guard generally do not count toward VA pension eligibility, unless the individual was called to full active duty. However, Reserve or Guard members may still qualify for other VA benefits if specific requirements are met.
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