▁ion izing ▁radiation ▁while ▁present ▁in ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁a ▁nuclear ▁explos ion ▁during ▁his / her ▁active ▁duty . ▁The ▁U . S . ▁Department ▁of ▁V eter ans ▁Affairs ▁defines ▁an ▁atomic ▁veter an ▁" who , ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁his ▁or ▁her ▁military ▁service : ▁Part icip ated ▁in ▁an ▁above - ground ▁nuclear ▁test , ▁ 1 9 4 5 – 1 9 6 2 ; ▁or ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ▁occupation ▁forces ▁in / around ▁H iro sh ima / N agas aki ▁before ▁ 1 9 4 6 ; ▁or ▁was ▁held ▁as ▁a ▁P OW ▁in ▁or ▁near ▁H iro sh ima ▁or ▁Nag as aki ▁( certain ▁cases ). " ▁ ▁The ▁definition ▁also ▁includes ▁service ▁personnel ▁from ▁other ▁nations , ▁including ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom , ▁Australia , ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁France , ▁China , ▁and ▁Russia ▁who ▁were ▁similarly ▁exposed ▁during ▁their ▁active ▁service . ▁ ▁United ▁States ▁ ▁A ffect ed ▁veter ans ▁The ▁Def ense ▁Th re at ▁Red u ction ▁Agency ' s ▁N uc lear ▁Test ▁Person nel ▁Review ▁has ▁maintained ▁a ▁database ▁of ▁participants ▁and ▁radiation ▁do se ▁reconst ru ctions ▁since ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁D ose ▁reconst ru ctions ▁are ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Department ▁of ▁V eter ans ▁Affairs ▁( VA ) ▁to ▁evaluate ▁and ▁decide ▁veter ans ' ▁claims ▁file d ▁under ▁the ▁prov isions ▁of ▁Public ▁Law ▁( PL ) ▁ 9 8 - 5 4