War Related Illness and Injury Study Center
FAQs
Complex Exposure Threats Center of Excellence (CETCE)
Which Veterans are eligible for a CETCE evaluation?
Veterans who served as Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists or were involved in anomalous health incidents while in the military are eligible for a CETCE clinical evaluation through the VA’s War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC). Veterans who do not meet this criteria but were deployed to an area of combat and have medically unexplained symptoms may be eligible for a WRIISC clinical evaluation. As the CETCE infrastructure expands, more Veteran groups who may have been exposed to complex or poorly defined environmental hazards may become eligible groups for CETC evaluations. In addition, CETCE has open research protocols that some Veterans may be eligible for that do not require a comprehensive clinical evaluation for enrollment.
How does a Veteran get a CETCE evaluation?
Veterans who have either served as (1) Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists in the military or (2) have reported an Anomalous Health Incident may request a War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) consult from their VA primary care provider for the CETCE clinical evaluation. VA primary care providers need to specify on the WRIISC consult that the purpose of the consult is to request a CETCE clinical evaluation. Details on the WRIISC referral process is available here.
Research enrollment is also available to those receiving clinical services at CETCE as well as to larger military cohorts who meet eligibility criteria of the studies. As studies are approved and ready, recruitment information for Veterans and Service Members will be posted here and shared during clinical encounters.
What type of provider can refer a Veteran for a CETCE clinical evaluation?
CETCE requests that VA primary care providers refer Veterans to the CETCE program to ensure that VA clinical information obtained through the CETCE evaluation is communicated to the Veteran’s local VA health care team.
Is the CETCE evaluation part of the VA’s Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam?
The CETCE evaluation is not part of the VA’s compensation and pension (C &P) process. However, information gathered from the CETCE evaluation may be used by the Veteran to support their C & P claim. Additionally, Veterans seen in CETCE will meet with a social worker who will be available to provide information and guidance on how the VA’s C & P process works.
