ILER is short for Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record. A web-based application, ILER assists Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs personnel in managing exposure data and caring for service members and veterans.
By linking service member and veteran data to known exposures, ILER supports individualized health care.
ILER compiles an electronic historical exposure record that documents a service member’s occupational and environmental health exposures over the course of their career. Known exposure events and incidents are linked. ILER includes clinical and environmental information, deployment history context, event-driven incident reports, and research or registry data.
Beyond storage of exposure data, ILER will contribute to preventive health, clinical care, and benefits determinations.
Once development is complete, ILER will enable users to add relevant information that might include deployments, garrison locations, registry information not included in ILER, and other environmental exposures updates.
Intended Users and Applications
ILER provides data to various professionals supporting uniformed service members and veterans.
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For clinicians, claims adjudicators, and benefits advisors:
ILER provides data to support care delivery, claims adjudication, and benefits advising for service members and veterans. This access helps inform health outcomes and support processes.
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For epidemiologists, researchers, and policymakers:
ILER offers awareness and insight into exposure events. It aids in case classification by reducing the number of external information management and information technology systems required to determine exposure impacts, supporting more efficient analysis, research, and policy development.
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For service members and veterans:
ILER brings together OEH exposures information from military service. Access to the records will help individuals see their record and add information.
ILER Myths vs. Facts Current ILER Research Guidelines
ILER offers the following capabilities for managing exposure data.
- Data consolidation: Consolidates multiple, disparate sources of exposure data. Record sources include exposures-related clinical evaluations, health assessments, environmental health registry evaluations, industrial hygiene assessments, occupational and environmental monitoring summaries, environmental health threat assessments, and service records.
- Health effect identification: Provides a framework for identifying previously unknown health effects associated with environmental exposures.
- Report generation: Allows for near real-time report creation using demographic variables.
- Secure access: Supports Personal Identity Verification and Common Access Card enabled access for user authentication.
ILER offers several benefits that support operations and outcomes.
- Exposure summaries: Provides individualized exposure information.
- Search functionality: Search reportable data by individual, location, and exposure type.
- Occupational and Environmental Health standard application: Applies OEH standards to filter and report relevant exposure data.
- Administrative streamlining: Supports the verification of previously documented and potentially harmful exposures. This reduces an administrative burden.
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Your health record doesn’t always tell the full story, but ILER helps fill in the gaps.
The Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record is a secure system linking documented occupational and environmental exposure information from your military service, including training, deployments, and duty assignments.
Having information in one place can support clinical awareness, VA claims reviews, public health analysis, and long-term health planning. In short, ILER helps keep your exposure history accessible.
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- For service members, go to to ILER Account logon page.
- After accepting the disclaimer and privacy notice, you’ll be prompted to request an ILER account using a personal email address.
- Once the form is complete and the credentials on your Common Access Card are verified, you'll see a prompt to “Login to My ILER Account”.
- Select this button. You'll be directed to your Individual Exposure Summary.
The VA is currently forecasted to offer Veteran access using department-approved access methods starting in the Fall of 2026.
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ILER helps you see what's on record. You should expect to see a summary of your service-related exposure history compiled from authorized source systems.
This may include information tied to deployments, duty locations/assignments, occupational history, and exposure-related registries, where applicable.
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You may self-report exposure information you believe is missing, such as deployment locations, garrison assignments, exposure events, or registry-related details.
Self-reported entries don't change official source data, but they can provide additional context for clinical discussions and personal documentation.
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Your submission stays in ILER under the “Self-Reported Information” section. It does not overwrite or modify official records.
Clinicians generally cannot validate or certify self-reported exposure events, but if the information is clinically relevant, they may consider it as supporting context when forming an assessment, care plan, or follow-up recommendations.
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ILER is a secure system. Access is limited to authorized personnel with a legitimate need to know, consistent with federal privacy and DOW security requirements.
Authorized users may include DOW and VA clinicians, VA benefits/claims personnel, and researchers for analysis and policy development.
Service members and veterans may view their own record when access is expanded. Service members will gain access in March 2026. The VA is currently forecasted to offer veteran access using department-approved access methods starting in the Fall of 2026.
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Clinicians may use ILER to understand how documented occupational and environmental exposures could relate to current or future health concerns.
ILER supports clinical awareness and may help inform risk assessment, screening considerations, diagnostic thinking, and care planning. It's a decision support tool that complements and doesn't replace clinical judgment.
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Authorized VA personnel may reference ILER to better understand documented service-related exposure history during claims review. ILER doesn't determine eligibility, disability ratings, or benefit decisions. Those determinations are made through established VA adjudication processes under applicable laws and regulations.
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Provide the most accurate information you can, even if it’s approximate. Month/year ranges, locations, unit information, and a clear description of the exposure event can still be helpful. Submit in good faith to the best of your knowledge.
Self-reported information remains labeled as self-reported. It's not “validated” into official source data by ILER.
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You’re encouraged to review ILER periodically, especially after deployments, changes in duty station, or before separation/retirement.
ILER compiles data from authorized systems as part of DOW/VA exposure documentation efforts. Using the system is optional, but reviewing your record is a smart habit for personal awareness.
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For account access or technical issues, contact Defense Health Agency Global Support Center at 1-800-600-9332 or via email.
For clinical questions about what exposure might mean for your health, contact your military or VA health care provider.
The VA is currently forecasted to offer veteran access using department-approved access methods starting in the Fall of 2026.
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The Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record is a secure, web-based system developed by the Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs to document and manage occupational and environmental exposures encountered by service members during their military careers.
Article
March 19, 2026
The Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record Program Management Office recognized at 25th annual Department of War CIO Annual Awards Program. The system improves how the department tracks, understands, and responds to occupational and environmental exposures over a service member’s career.
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Last Updated: March 24, 2026