Long-term health effects of Vietnam-era military service: A quasi-experiment using Australian conscription lotteries

Abstract

This paper estimates the long-term health effects of Vietnam-era military service using Australia's National conscription lotteries for identification. Our primary contribution is the quality and breadth of our health outcomes. We use several administrative sources, containing a near-universe of records on mortality (1994–2011), cancer diagnoses (1982–2008), and emergency hospital presentations (2005–2010). We also analyse a range of self-reported morbidity indicators (2006–2009). We find no significant long-term effects on mortality, cancer or emergency hospital visits. In contrast, we find significant detrimental effects on a number of morbidity measures. Hearing and mental health appear to be particularly affected.