About Reports

IOM reports provide objective and straightforward advice to decision makers and the public. This site includes IOM reports published after 1998. All reports from the IOM and the National Academies, including those published before 1998, are available from the National Academies Press.

• 
  A 21st Century System for Evaluating Veterans for Disability Benefits Released: June 7, 2007

  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a rating system, known as the Rating Schedule, to determine compensation for veterans who have acquired or aggravated injuries and diseases during military service. As requested by the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission, the Institute of Medicine has issued the report, A 21st Century System for Evaluating Veterans for Disability Benefits, which examines and recommends improvements in the medical evaluation and rating of veterans for the benefits provided by the VA.
• 
  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Veterans: Review of the Scientific Literature Released: November 6, 2006

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive and nearly always fatal disease that affects a person’s nervous system. Several recent epidemiologic studies have reported an association between development of ALS and prior service in the US military. The Department of Veterans Affairs asked the Institute of Medicine to conduct an independent assessment of the potential relationship between military service and ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Veterans: Review of the Scientific Literature reports that there is limited and suggestive evidence of an association between military service and later development of ALS.
• 
  Battling Malaria: Strengthening the U.S. Military Malaria Vaccine Program Released: May 25, 2006

  Recognizing the great complexity and expense of the mission to develop a malaria vaccine for the U.S. military in an era of scarce resources, the Department of Defense (DoD) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to conduct a programmatic review of the military Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine research and development program. This review recommends ways to overcome barriers to vaccine development and to streamline the department’s research efforts.
• 
  Disposition of the Air Force Health Study Released: February 24, 2006

  The Institute of Medicine was asked to provide guidance on the future of the Air Force Health Study (AFHS, also known as the Ranch Hand Study), a long-term epidemiologic analysis of Air Force personnel who conducted aerial spraying of herbicides during the Vietnam War.
• 
  Disposition of the Air Force Health Stud. Interim Letter Report Released: November 15, 2005

  This interim letter report focuses on how on data and specimens collected from study participants have been catalogued and stored.