Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness
The VA states that any veteran who has served in the Middle East since August 2nd 1990 and has been diagnosed with an illness including the following symptoms has a service connected illness:
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Functional gastrointestinal disorders
Medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness
Other undiagnosed illnesses, such as cardiovascular signs and symptoms, muscle and joint pain, and headaches
This is the relevant web page:
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/medically-unexplained-illness.asp
On a separate web page the VA lists other conditions to be potentially part of such an undiagnosed illness:
Skin symptoms
Neurological or neuropsychological symptoms
Symptoms involving the upper or lower respiratory system
Sleep disturbance
Weight loss
Menstrual disorders
Chronic fatigue syndrome, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, muscle and joint pain, headaches, skin symptoms, and sleep disturbances have hundreds of VAERS reports each; while fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular problems, neurological symptoms, and respiratory symptoms each have a few dozen VAERS reports.
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm there were a number of novel environmental exposures, and there is strong evidence of some of those exposures being linked to illness [3]; however for most of the years since 1991 there has only been one common exposure for those who have deployed to the region, yet it has never been investigated as a cause of GWUI. The investigation by Congress published in 2008 observed:
‘There is relatively little scientific research, however, that has provided clear information on the potential for the anthrax vaccine, or other vaccinations received by Gulf War veterans, to produce chronic symptoms similar to those of Gulf War illness. Receipt of multiple vaccines over a brief time period, prior to and during deployment, has also been suspected as a possible contributor to Gulf War illness. But relatively little research has specifically assessed the development of chronic symptoms following receipt of numerous vaccines, particularly the specific shots received by Gulf War personnel.' [3]
No research has been conducted subsequent to 2008 to shed any further light on the question.
The VA has published treatment options in a document: VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Chronic Multisymptom Illness.
https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mr/cmi/
Other conditions which are presumed service connected for those who have served in south west Asia, with some variation depending on the location and time, are:
Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
Adenocarcinoma of the trachea
Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
Large cell carcinoma of the lung
Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung
Brain cancer
Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
Glioblastoma
Head cancer of any type
Kidney cancer
Lymphatic cancer of any type
Lymphoma of any type
Melanoma
Neck cancer of any type
Pancreatic cancer
Reproductive cancer of any type
Respiratory cancer of any type
Asthma that was diagnosed after service
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
This is the relevant web page:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf
Cancer, asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary conditions each have several dozen VAERS reports.
Assistance with a Disability Claim
There are two disability procedures for a veterans, one with the branch of service for a disability retirement, and one with the VA.
A disability retirement should be granted by the chain of command when warranted. If for any reason it has not been done properly then a veteran can apply to have his record corrected. Further information can be found here:
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Private lawyers can assist with filing the claim, which if granted should also pay the legal fees.
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A disability claim is filed separately with the VA. Every serviceman coming to the end of his active service should be contacted by the VA, if it does not happen then a veteran can make contact through one of the VA clinics throughout the country, or through the US embassy in another country. Some charities and private lawyers exist to assist with the process, and further web sites exist to try to simplify a notoriously bureaucrratic and inefficient procedure. The VA is also notorious for being adversarial in evaluating disability claims, which it is not supposed to be but the government knows that few veterans awarded too much money will hand it back.
It is vital to verify all information provided by all sources, including the VA itself. This is a link to one such charity:
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This is a privately run web site to assist veterans becoming oriented with the VA system:
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