DBA Claims Relating to Iranian Attacks on US Bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain
What the Defense Base Act Covers
The Defense Base Act (DBA) is a federal workers’ compensation statute that extends coverage under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to civilian contractors working overseas on U.S. military bases or pursuant to U.S. government contracts.
1) Physical Injuries
- Blast injuries and overpressure exposure
- Shrapnel wounds and penetrating trauma
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussion
- Orthopedic injuries (spine, shoulder, knee, hip, ankle)
- Hearing loss or tinnitus after explosions
- Respiratory injuries from smoke or chemical exposure
Even if symptoms develop later (for example, post-concussive syndrome or spinal conditions), they may still be compensable if the evidence ties the condition to the attack or the immediate response (evacuation, bunker runs, impacts, falls).
2) PTSD, Psychiatric, and Psychological Injuries
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Acute stress disorder (ASD)
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Major depressive disorder
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Adjustment disorders
You do not have to suffer a physical injury for a psychiatric injury to be compensable. Exposure to the Iranian missile strikes, drone attacks, explosions, direct threats to life, or repeated alerts (such as those from Patriot defense systems and C-Rams) and shelter-in-place events can support a PTSD claim when properly documented.
PTSD and Psychiatric Claims After Iranian Hostile Attacks on Al-Salem Air Base, Al-Dhafra Air Base, Al Udeid Air Base, and Bahrain
Attacks on bases such as the Iranian attacks on Al-Salem Air Base (Kuwait), Al-Dhafra Air Base (UAE), Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar), and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet Headquarters (Bahrain) are inherently traumatic events. Contractors on or near these bases may suffer from psychiatric injuries such as Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder and experience:
- Hypervigilance and heightened startle response
- Nightmares, intrusive memories, and flashbacks
- Irritability, anger, or mood swings
- Avoidance of reminders (sounds, places, news)
- Emotional numbing and social withdrawal
- Difficulty concentrating and impaired short-term memory
- Sleep disturbance, fatigue, and reduced stress tolerance
Under the Defense Base Act, these conditions may be compensable if they arise out of and in the course of employment. The key is building the medical and factual record early and accurately.
Important: Do not minimize symptoms in early reporting, and do not exaggerate them. Consistency and credibility matter.
Physical Injury Claims After Iranian Attacks on US Bases in the Middle East
Physical injuries can occur from the blast itself, debris, falls, or the urgent response to incoming threats, running to bunkers, taking cover, evacuating, or assisting others.
Common physical injury patterns include:
- Orthopedic injuries during bunker runs or evacuation
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine injuries (such as herniated discs, compression fractures, radiculopathy)
- Concussion/TBI from overpressure or impact
- Hearing damage (hearing loss/tinnitus)
- Respiratory issues from smoke, dust, or exposure
- Stress-triggered medical events (including cardiac symptoms) where supported by medical evidence
The DBA provides for reasonable and necessary medical care and DBA disability (compensation) benefits when injuries prevent a return to work.
The DBA Claim Process (Practical Overview)
- Get medical care immediately.
Early medical/psychiatric documentation matters. Keep all medical and psychiatric records, including any medical records regarding overseas medical evaluations and treatment. Documentation is important. - Notify your employer in writing within 30 days.
Under the Defense Base Act, you should notify your employer in writing within 30 days of the injury/incident (sooner is better) and keep proof of notice. - File the formal claim paperwork.
A formal claim is commonly filed on an LS-203, and other forms may apply depending on the case posture. It is important to speak with a DBA lawyer before completing the LS-203. - Expect insurance carrier involvement.
The DBA insurance carrier may request recorded statements, authorizations, and independent medical exams (IMEs). Speak to a DBA lawyer before speaking with a DBA insurance company representative. - Build the medical and wage record.
Proper medical documentation and accurate wage information drive both compensability and the compensation rate. Oftentimes, after a contractor leaves the base, it may be difficult to obtain such overseas medical records. Likewise, when contractors leave to return to the US, they may lose access to payroll records, so print up your wage records as far back as you can go. Same for any communications with your employer about the attacks, returning home for medical care, etc. Keep copies of all such communications.
While each case is unique, the most successful claims start with prompt notice, prompt medical care, and meticulous documentation.
Tips for Documenting DBA Claims After an Attack
1) Secure Medical Records
- Base clinic or emergency treatment records (even if the treatment was with a medic, base PA, etc).
- Evacuation/transfer documentation
- Psychiatric/psychological evaluations
- Prescriptions and medication history
- Follow-up records (primary care, specialists, therapy)
2) Preserve Wage and Employment Records
- Offer letter and employment contract
- Pay stubs and direct deposit records (especially for the 52 weeks before the attack and your return home).
- Per diem documentation
- Overtime, hazard pay, and differential records
- Deployment orders/travel / onboarding paperwork
Why it matters: Average Weekly Wage (AWW) calculations drive the compensation rate. Missing wage records can cost real money.
3) Gather Evidence of the Attack (If Safe and Permitted)
- Photographs of damage (where permitted)
- Shelter-in-place alerts or base-wide notifications
- Incident reports (if available)
- Emails or texts sent contemporaneously describing the event
- Witness statements from coworkers who observed the event and your immediate response
Security note: Always comply with operational security rules and employer policies. If photographs are not permitted, document what you can through written notes and witness statements.
4) Keep a Symptom Journal to provide to your DBA Lawyer
Especially for PTSD claims, keep brief, dated notes on sleep, nightmares, panic symptoms, concentration issues, and functional limitations. Consistency between your journal and medical reporting strengthens credibility.
5) Obtain Appropriate Mental Health Evaluation
Trauma-focused evaluation and treatment can be essential. Delays in care can give insurance carriers room to argue the condition is unrelated or “resolved.” You will need to have a psychiatrist or a psychologist diagnose you, link your psychiatric condition to the traumatic events experienced in Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. Talk to a DBA lawyer first. This is a form that your psychiatrist should complete: OWCP 5-A (Work Capacity Evaluation : Psychiatric/Psychological Conditions. Note that at the bottom, a physician needs to sign it. Again, it is best to speak with an experienced DBA lawyer before having your psychiatrist or psychologist complete this form.
Common DBA Insurance Tactics in Iranian Hostile-Attack Claims
In attack-related cases, DBA insurance carriers and their lawyers often look for ways to dispute causation, minimize disability, or frame symptoms as “ordinary stress.”They may argue:
- Symptoms are temporary and do not impair work capacity
- Preexisting conditions—not the attack—are the true cause
- Blast exposure was insufficient to cause injury
- A contractor can return to work despite documented limitations
- Psychiatric symptoms are inconsistent or exaggerated
The antidote is thorough, early documentation, and a carefully developed medical/psychiatric record supported by credible providers.
Act Quickly: Protect Your Health and Your Rights under the Defense Base Act
After an attack, contractors often keep pushing forward to support the mission. But your health and your legal rights matter. If you were exposed to these attacks and you’re experiencing symptoms (physical or psychological) take action now:
- Seek medical/psychiatric care promptly and report all symptoms
- Notify your employer in writing within 30 days (sooner is better)
- Keep proof of notice (email confirmation, screenshots, delivery receipts)
- Preserve documentation (wage records, medical records, alerts, witness names)
- Be accurate and consistent—do not minimize or exaggerate
- Research Medical Providers Back Home – Injured contractors should also begin researching qualified medical providers back home as soon as possible, particularly if they are returning stateside after an attack or serious incident. Under the Defense Base Act, injured workers generally have the right to choose their own physician, and it is often wise to seek out board-certified specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical medicine physicians, and other appropriate experts, who have experience evaluating and treating trauma-related conditions. Establishing care early with well-qualified providers can significantly strengthen both recovery and the legal foundation of a DBA claim.
- Speak with a DBA lawyer sooner rather than later. Your DBA lawyer will carefully prepare your DBA claim to file with the Department of Labor (DOL) and, if necessary, litigate it before the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). A DBA attorney will also explain to you compensation under the DBA, timing of compensation, medical/psychiatric care, typical defenses of the DBA insurance companies (such Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, Allied World, AIG, and third-party administrators such as Gallagher Bassett, ESI, and Broadspire), surveillance by DBA insruance companies, Independent Medical Examinations (IME), Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE), and discuss all benefits of the DBA. Many Defense Base Act claims are ultimately resolved at DBA mediation and, if not, are litigated before the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). From the very beginning, the employer and the DBA insurance carrier will have experienced DBA defense lawyers involved to protect their interests, and injured contractors should have the same level of representation on their side. Having a seasoned DBA lawyer engaged early helps preserve critical evidence, ensure proper notice and wage calculations, coordinate medical support, and position the DBA case strategically for DBA settlement or litigation.