Shortly after the end of the 1991 Gulf War, tens of thousands of service- members reported a variety of symptoms which they believed were related to service in the Gulf. Among others, these included rashes, fatigue, joint point and nausea. Collectively, the media has referred to these issues as “Gulf War Illnesses” or “Gulf War Syndrome,” however, there is little evidence that there is any single illness impacting Gulf War and later veterans. Rather, a variety of exposures during the conflict resulted in a variety of illnesses.
This chapter covers, in brief, what some of those exposures were. It will also cover some of the science that is currently known about those exposures, and what related conditions are service-connected for purposes of compensa- tion and pension.
Because Congress has not set an end date to the Gulf War, any veteran who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations after August 2, 1990 is eligible for benefits. However, this theater does not include Afghanistan, Tur- key or a number of other countries where servicemembers have deployed since 2001.
In order to be eligible for compensation for undiagnosed illnesses, you must have served in one of the following areas: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations.
Symptoms for Undiagnosed Illnesses
Some symptoms which are examples of undiagnosed illnesses include:
• Chronic fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Skin disorders
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain neurologic symptoms
• Neuropsychological symptoms
• Respiratory problems
• Sleep disorders
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Cardiovascular problems
• Abnormal weight loss
• Menstrual disorders
Qualifying illnesses are not limited to this list. In order to be considered chronic, the symptoms must have existed for at least six months, and is meas- ured from the beginning date of the onset of symptoms.
Required Evidence
The veteran applying for compensation for undiagnosed illnesses is not re- quired to demonstrate or prove a link between the illness and service in the Persian Gulf. However, it limited evidence must be shown off the existence of the illness. This can include both the statements of doctors as well as friends or family members. For example, a written statement from a family member documenting sleep problems since service in the Gulf War, qualifies.
If the evidence exists of a non-service-connected condition which could cause the same symptoms, such as alcohol or drug abuse, the VA may use that as grounds for do not.
Additionally, the existence of a diagnosis for the illness, can work against that. For example, if a Gulf War veteran suffers from long-term fatigue and headaches, and that illness is undiagnosed, the new veteran is eligible for com- pensation. If, however, a VA doctor gives a diagnosis of any kind for these symptoms, the veteran may then be rendered not eligible for compensation. In this circumstance, it actually works against the veteran, to get a clear diagnosis for their illness.
Once a veteran receives a diagnosis, there are two basic options. First, the veteran can seek an alternative medical opinion which indicates that the spe- cific symptoms cannot be clearly attributed to a diagnosable illness. Second, the veteran can seek service-connected compensation for that diagnosis.
The second option can actually be much more difficult, because the vet- eran then has to prove a big clear medical link between military service and the illness through the normal channels available to every veteran. Generally, to prove such a link, the veteran must document that the illness began within one year of service.
A third option may come open in the future, which is presumptive service connection due to exposure to specific toxins. Those specific exposures are currently under review by the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientific Reviews of Exposures from the Persian Gulf
For several years the National Academy of Sciences has been reviewing re- search and studies related to the exposure of US troops to a variety of toxins during the 1991 Gulf War. This research is conducted under an official con- tract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is intended to guide VA in establishing presumptive service connection for specific exposures, including sarin (nerve gas), depleted uranium munitions, anti-nerve agent pills (pyri- dostigmine bromide), as well as a number of others.
Until recently, the NAS had made no conclusions blinking exposures to specific illness. However, new research reported in the Proceedings of the Na- tional Academy of Sciences in March 2008, clearly linked exposure to pyridostigmine bromide and pesticides to specific types of neurological dam- age.
Because this new research is not part of the official NAS contract, if does not directly impact compensation issues for Gulf War veterans. However, it opens the door that during the next official literature review, NAS may well recommend presumptive service connection to the VA for specific neurologi- cal conditions. Stay tuned for more news in this area.
In November 2008, the VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses issued a report which strongly linked exposure to specific toxins and the illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans, and criticized VA for not spending enough money on research into effective treatments. It is unclear at this time what the impact on policy will be.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s dis- ease. A degenerative neurological disorder; the disease kills motor neurons, which causes muscles to degenerate. There is no known cause for the disease, and it is typically fatal within 5 years.
Two studies published in 2003 by Baylor University (sponsored by the VA) and Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported that Gulf War veterans were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS as individuals in the general population.
Though the statistic risk of ALS for Gulf War veterans is much higher than the general population, it is still extremely rare, with less than 100 cases identified amongst all Gulf War veterans.
Unlike undiagnosed illness claims, which are extended to any veteran who served in Southwest Asia since August 2, 1990, veterans who suffer from ALS can only be service-connected if the veteran served in the theater on any date between August 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991.
Charles Sheehan-Miles is the author of Prayer at Rumayla and Republic: A Novel of America's Future (Cincinnatus Press, 2007) and is currently completing work on his third novel, Insurgent. He served in combat with the 24th Infantry Division during the 1991 Gulf War, and was decorated for valor for helping rescue fellow tank crewmen from a burning tank during the Battle at Rumayla.
Since then, he has been a regular speaker on issues relating to the Gulf War, ill veterans, and policy in Iraq. He is a former President and co-founder of the National Gulf War Resource Center and has served on the board of the Edu- cation for Peace in Iraq Center. Prior to becoming executive director of Veterans for Common Sense in August 2004, he was director of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC. Since 2006, he has worked with Veterans for America as its director of information technology. Charles lives in Cary, North Carolina with his wife Veronica and their two children.