In some cases, later legislation is enacted to extend these beginning and ending dates for the purpose of broadening eligibility for veterans' benefits. "periods of war" and those dates given in the declarations of war beginning and the proclamations, laws, or treaties terminating such conflicts. Moreover, armistice dates are also often confused with termination dates. Title 38, Part 3, Section 3.2 of the Code of Federal Regulations , dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), lists official beginning and termination dates for most war periods from the Indian Wars to the present to be used in determining the availability of veterans' benefits. Also included are dates for the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, see CRS Report R42324, Who Is a "Veteran"?—Basic Eligibility for Veterans' Benefits , by Scott D. Szymendera, and CRS Report RL31133, Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications , by Jennifer K. Elsea and Matthew C. Weed. 23 , "Authorization for Use of Military Force," on September 14, 2001. On December 15, 2011, U.S. Armed Forces in Baghdad marked the official end of the war in Iraq. Islamic State-Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)

Effective October 15, 2014, the DOD designated U.S. and coalition operations "Operation Inherent Resolve" against the terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, another name for the Islamic State) along the Syrian-Iraqi border.
Many wars or conflicts in U.S. history have federally designated "periods of war," dates marking their beginning and ending. These dates are important for qualification for certain veterans' pension or disability benefits. Confusion can occur because beginning and ending dates for "periods of war" in many nonofficial sources are often different from those given in treaties and other official sources of information, and armistice dates can be confused with termination dates. This report lists the beginning and ending dates for "periods of war" found in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It also lists and differentiates other beginning dates given in declarations of war, as well as termination of hostilities dates and armistice and ending dates given in proclamations, laws, or treaties. The dates for the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are included along with the official end date for Operation New Dawn in Iraq on December 15, 2011, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on December 28, 2014. Operation Inherent Resolve continues along the Syrian-Iraqi border effective October 15, 2014.
For additional information, see the following CRS Products: CRS In Focus IF10539, Defense Primer: Legal Authorities for the Use of Military Forces, by Jennifer K. Elsea; CRS Report RL31133, Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications, by Jennifer K. Elsea and Matthew C. Weed.