Gulf War Veterans Informaton and Update on Medical Issues

Gulf War Veterans INFORMATION
 
Service in the Persian Gulf

Military personnel who served in the Gulf War have had a significantly higher incidence of undiagnosed illnesses than those who were not deployed to the theatre of operations. Veterans who participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm are now referred to as Gulf War veterans rather than Persian Gulf War veterans.

Gulf War veterans have reported suffering from one or more symptoms that include fatigue, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, rashes and pains in muscles and joints. The symptoms range in severity from barely detectable to completely debilitating. There have been no single accepted diagnosis or group of diagnoses identified that describes and explains these symptoms although some of the possible causes are suspected to be associated with multiple environmental exposures.

What is "Persian Gulf Syndrome" or "Gulf War Syndrome"?
These are terms used to describe symptoms and illnesses reported by individuals who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia in 1990-91. Researchers are considering many possible causes including, but not limited to:

• Oil, smoke and other petrochemical agents
• Leishmaniasis (Sand flies)
• Pyridostigmine bromide, malaria prophylaxis and other prophylactic drug treatments;
• Inoculations (Anthrax, botulism, etc.)
• Infections
• Chemicals
• Pesticides
• Microwaves
• Depleted uranium
• Pyridostigmine bromide
• Chemical and biological warfare agents.
• Contaminated food and water obtained in the Persian Gulf
• What are some of the symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome?

Gulf War veterans have commonly reported that they suffer from a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Chronic fatigue
• Skin rash
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep disturbances
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Chest pain
• Flu-like conditions
• Sinus congestion
• Post nasal drip
• Hair loss
• Loose teeth, sore and/or bleeding gums
• Dizziness, vertigo

Who is eligible for compensation?
Veterans serving on active military duty in Southwest Asia from Aug. 2, 1990, until Congress or the president ends the war (38 USC Section 101(33) and were assigned to duty in the following areas:

• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• The neutral zone (between Iraq and Saudi Arabia)
• Bahrain
• Qatar
• The United Arab Emirates
• Oman
• Gulf of Aden
• Gulf of Oman
• Waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and the Red Sea

I am a Gulf War veteran. What services will the VA provide for me?
Health-care services will be provided to veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, may have been, or were, exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard. All Gulf War veterans, even if feeling healthy, are encouraged to visit a VA facility for a comprehensive physical evaluation.

Such health-care services will be provided without regard to the veteran’s age, service-connected status or ability of the veteran to defray the expenses of such care. Veterans furnished outpatient care under this authority receive priority medical care equal to former Prisoners of War who are receiving care for non service-connected conditions. VA operates a toll-free hotline at 1-800-749-8387 to answer Gulf War veterans’ questions and to assist them with referrals to VA facilities for medical care if needed.

I served in the Gulf War. Do I automatically receive disability compensation?
No. You must first receive a comprehensive health examination, available at no-cost at a VA medical facility.

What is the Gulf War Registry Program?
The Gulf War Registry program is an active outreach program for Gulf War veterans to share information with other Gulf War veterans and other interested individuals. Veterans who choose to participate are asked about their medical history, their experiences in the Gulf War, including possible exposures to environmental hazards, and health problems they have had since returning from the Gulf region. Once registered, participants receive priority heath care at VA facilities. They also are notified of any Gulf War-related medical developments, benefit changes and related matters.

Can an ill Gulf War veteran get medical treatment at VA for his or her medical problems?
In 1993, at VA request, Congress enacted Public Law 103-210, giving Gulf War veterans special eligibility for VA health care for medical conditions possibly related to their Gulf War experience. Eligible individuals can apply by calling the VA Gulf War Veterans Helpline at 1-800-PGW-VETS.

Can the spouses and children of Gulf War veterans get free medical examinations?
Yes. To be eligible to participate in this VA-funded effort, an individual must:

1. Be the spouse of child of a veteran listed in the VA registry, and suffer from an illness of disorder;
2. Be suffering from, or may have suffered from an illness or disorder (including a birth defect, miscarriage, or stillbirth) which could he connected to the veteran’s service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations; and
3. Have granted VA permission to include in the registry medical information from the evaluation.

What happens if a Gulf War veteran has symptoms that cannot be diagnosed by doctors at the local VA medical center?
While most veterans can be diagnosed and treated at their local VA medical center, some have conditions that are unusual and difficult to diagnose. Sometimes this requires continued testing and observation by a team of specialists. The local VA physician may refer these veterans to a special VA Gulf War referral center.

Is an infectious agent making Gulf War veterans ill?
Fewer infectious diseases occurred during the Gulf War than in any previous war. However, in 1991, a small number of Gulf War veterans returned from Southwest Asia with infectious diseases that have been diagnosed and treated. Infections with viruses, mycoplasma, microsporidia and various bacteria are among the agents hypothesized but not conclusively shown to be related to
chronic multi-symptom illnesses experienced by many Gulf War veterans.

Extensive medical testing by DoD, the VA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and academic medical centers have not found a link between infectious agents and the chronic, as yet unexplained, illnesses of Gulf War veterans.

Can a veteran be compensated for illnesses related to Gulf War service?
Yes. Since early 1995, VA has been providing special compensation payments to chronically disabled Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses. This benefit was expanded under an April 29, 1997, regulation that essentially eliminated the date of initial manifestation of latent symptoms as a consideration in adjudication through the end of the year 2001. A disability is considered chronic if it has existed for at least six months.

Gulf War veterans who have illnesses that developed in or made worse during their military service should file a claim for disability compensation. Completing the Gulf War Registry health examination is not the same as filing a claim for compensation. VFW Service Officers, located throughout the United States, can provide the application and any needed assistance. To find a VFW Service Officer in your area, click here or call National Veterans Service Phone: (202) 543-2239.

How do I submit a claim?
Veterans who wish to submit a claim for conditions possibly related to Persian Gulf service should file a claim via the normal claims process through a Veterans Benefits Counselor (VBC) at the nearest VA medical center or regional office. For help in filing a compensation claim, contact a VFW Service Officer. To find one in your area, click here

What is the period for filing a claim?
In light of the continuing scientific and medical inquiry into the nature and cause of undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans, the continuing military operations in the Gulf region, and the new claims still being received from Gulf War veterans, the presumptive period for disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more through Dec. 31, 2006.

I would like a veterans’ service agency to help me in filing a claim. Where can I go for help?
Anyone can contact the VFW’s Tactical Assessment Center (1-800/VFW-1899) for assistance in resolving treatment or compensation problems involving issues on Gulf War Undiagnosed Illnesses.

The VFW directly assists individual Gulf War veterans (and family members as necessary) in claims with the VA. We are committed to ensuring quality representation and VA decision-making. Along this line, the national VFW staff will soon begin to review and analyze VA regional office rating decisions on disability claims from Gulf War veterans represented by the VFW.

Are there any new developments that link Gulf War Syndrome to a particular disease?
Recently, some concern has arisen regarding a possible increased rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig ‘s Disease) among veterans who served in the Gulf War. In response, VA began a new investigation to determine if they show a higher than expected rate of ALS, a neurological disease, which results in degeneration of the nervous system. To find out more, click here

Where can I find out more about Gulf War Syndrome?
VA’s Gulf War Review newsletter provides detailed information on Gulf War Syndrome. Veterans who are part of the Gulf War Registry automatically are mailed this periodical. Anyone who would like to be added to the mailing list, should send his or her name and address to the following address:

VACO, Gulf War Review
Environmental Agents Service ( 131 )
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

VA operates a toll-free hotline at 1-800-749-8387 to answer Gulf War veterans’ questions and to assist them with referrals to VA facilities for medical care if needed.

Useful links:
Institute of MedicineThe VA Gulf War Veterans’ Website
Department of Defense Gulflink

Useful phone numbers:
VFW National Veterans Service Phone: (202) 543-2239
DoD Incident Reporting Line: 1-800-497-6261
DoD Gulf War Medical Registry (CCEP): 1-800-796-9699
Veterans’ Affairs Registry: 1-800-749-8387 (PGW-VETS)