+2 About 300,000 U.S. veterans of undeclared 1980s and 1990s conflicts in Honduras and El Salvador are excluded from specific VA and Department of Defense benefits. Because Congress never officially declared war in these regions, their service was not recognized with the necessary expeditionary medals required to access certain combat-related entitlements.These service members were deployed to Central America for stabilization and counter-communist operations, often facing hazardous conditions and toxic exposures. However, because the Department of Defense has not officially recognized Honduras as a combat zone (by issuing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or a campaign badge), these veterans cannot access crucial health care and disability benefits for injuries caused by burn pits and contaminated water.Veterans and advocacy groups argue this creates a severe inequity, as similar deployments to other areas during the same era were recognized. Organizations like the Central America War Advocates are actively pushing for official recognition and corresponding medals so these veterans can receive the benefits they earned.If you or a loved one served in an undeclared conflict zone, there are steps you can take to understand your current standing:Review the Veterans of Foreign Wars Eligibility Worksheet to check what campaign medals are currently required for benefits.Explore general VA criteria using the official Determining Veteran Status Guide.