Background: Tens of thousands of American veterans die each month and account for one quarter of all US deaths.  Inquiring about military service has both practical and therapeutic benefits. Hospice care is now a covered benefit for all enrolled veterans and the Veterans Administration (VA) will purchase hospice services from local communities it serves. Furthermore, military service can be a core experience in defining the way veterans live and the way they die. Unfortunately, not all clinicians inquire about military history. Not knowing how to initiate a military history can be a barrier for many clinicians.   

Importance of proceeding at the veteran’s preferred pace of discussion: A polite inquiry about military service is a good way to create an atmosphere of respect, keeping in mind that not all veterans will want to speak with you about the details of their war experience. Because a discussion of combat experiences can reactivate deeply buried issues, it is important to make this known to the veteran and ask if he/she wishes to proceed.  

Listed below are phrases to help you get started in taking a military history.   

Starting questions 

• Are you a veteran? 
• Tell me about your military experience? 
• What did you do in the military? 
• When and where did you serve? 
• What branch of the military were you in? 

Detailed questions 

• What was your highest rank? 
• Did you see combat or were you in a combat area? Did you see enemy fire or causalities?  
• Do you have any exposure concerns? For example, Agent Orange, cold injuries, noise-induce hearing loss, particulates? 
• Were you a prisoner of war? 

• Were you wounded or hospitalized? 
• Do you currently receive care at a VA? Have you inquired to see if you would be eligible for VA care? Do you have a VA service-connected condition?  

Deepening the military History: 

• How has your military experience impacted you physically? Psychologically? Spiritually? 
• Do you think your experiences in the military are affecting you today? 
• Is there anything about your experiences in the military that is still troubling you today? 
• Do you have nightmares about the war? 
• What was your homecoming like? Is there anything about your homecoming that is still troubling you today? 
• Do you think your experiences in the military and your homecoming affected your relationships with family and friends when you returned?  
• Do you keep in touch with your war buddies? 
• Do you think your military experiences are influencing the way you are now coping with your illness? 

Next steps: If the veteran experiences significant anxiety and needs psychological assistance, or if you would like guidance, you can contact your local VA Medical Center to access their mental health clinics, trauma recovery clinics, or Vet Centers. 

References 

1. US Department of Veterans Affairs.  Military Health History Pocket Card for Clinicians.  Available at: https://www.va.gov/oaa/docs/mhpcmobile.pdf 
2. Beresford L. VA Transforms End of Life Care. (Monograph.) US Department of Veterans Affairs. 2004. 
3. Patient resources can be found at:  http://www.va.gov. Search for “Veteran Fact Sheets.” 
4. Military History Checklist can be found at http://www.wehonorveterans.org/ 
5. Brown, Jeffery L. The Unasked Question.  JAMA: A Piece of my Mind, 308(18); 2012.  
6. Spelman et al. Post Deployment Care for Returning Combat Veterans. JGIM, 27(9); 2012. 

Version History:  This Fast Fact was originally edited by David E Weissman MD and published in March 2006.  2nd Edition in April 2009; 3rd Edition in September 2015 by Katherine Recka MD; 4th Edition in March 2024 by Adrienne Klement MD.
Conflicts of Interest: None to report.