What is Gulf War Syndrome?

Gulf War veterans making VA disability claims for medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses often require the help of a VA disability appeals attorney due to the complex nature of these cases.

Summary

• Veterans often face difficulties accessing VA benefits for Gulf War Syndrome, partly due to the lack of a definitive diagnosis.
• Gulf War Syndrome includes chronic symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, cognitive issues, skin rashes, and respiratory problems. The VA also recognizes conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorders as Gulf War medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.
• Diagnosing Gulf War Syndrome is challenging due to varied symptoms, often leading the VA to deny initial disability claims. Thorough medical records strengthen a veteran’s claim.
• Gulf War veterans illnesses are likely linked to exposure to hazardous chemicals during military service, such as oil fires, burn pits, and chemical weapons.

After serving in the Gulf War, hundreds of thousands of military personnel returned with unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. In many cases, veterans encounter issues accessing VA disability benefits for Gulf War Syndrome due to issues like lack of diagnosis.

Our team of VA disability claims lawyers has worked closely with many Gulf War veterans over the years, so we understand the frustration this can produce. VetLaw is committed to helping Gulf War veterans offset the costs of their illnesses by claiming the VA disability compensation they are entitled to.

Our experience representing clients with Gulf War presumptive claim denials has equipped us with the expertise needed to convince the VA that disability compensation is warranted for veterans coping with these illnesses.

Give us a call at (855) 525-1710 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Signs of Gulf War Syndrome in Veterans

Recognizing the signs of Gulf War Syndrome and getting a physician to make an official diagnosis are often complicated for veterans. The symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome are relatively common ailments and presentation varies between individuals. 

The term Gulf War Syndrome informally refers to a set of symptoms observed in veterans of Gulf War conflicts. However, given that that definition is relatively broad, the VA calls them medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses instead. 

Additionally, the VA accepts these conditions as a hazard of military service and authorizes disability benefits accordingly. Notably, Gulf War Syndrome lacks a definitive medical basis, such as a physical trauma, that would prompt symptoms.

Symptoms of Gulf War Veterans Illnesses

Gulf War veterans with this service-connected disability often report experiencing:

• Serious fatigue and insomnia
• Muscle and joint pain
• Cognitive problems such as poor short-term memory and trouble focusing
• Skin rashes
• Respiratory problems including shortness of breath
• Digestive system issues like diarrhea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keep in mind that Gulf War Syndrome is chronic, or ongoing, and it typically requires multiple symptoms to make a credible diagnosis. Conditions like fibromyalgia, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic fatigue syndrome also fall under the VA’s category for Gulf War veterans illnesses. 

The Challenge of Diagnosing Gulf War Syndrome

Due to the nature of Gulf War veterans illnesses, medical providers may struggle to identify that a veteran’s collection of symptoms are related. Consequently, many Gulf War veterans are initially denied disability benefits due to a lack of diagnosis. 

Detailed medical records are essential for Gulf War veterans to use in these cases.

Medical records can keep track of the onset, severity, and frequency of a veteran’s Gulf War Syndrome symptoms. This allows providers to see the full picture of a veteran’s health, therefore strengthening the physician’s  ability to make a standard or differential diagnosis.

If the Department of Veterans Affairs has denied your Gulf War Illness disability compensation, then you should speak with a veteran benefits lawyer about how to strengthen your case.

What Causes Gulf War Syndrome?

The short answer to “What causes veterans to develop Gulf War Syndrome?” is: we still don’t know. The best evidence we have suggests that in-service exposure to hazardous chemicals plays a major role in causing Gulf War Syndrome. 

In the context of the Gulf War, chemical exposure comes in several forms.

Gulf War veterans who were deployed are generally more likely to have experienced these exposures. Researchers have also found higher medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness rates among female Gulf War veterans who deployed versus those who did not.

Gulf War-era exposures linked to MUCMIs include:

• Oil well fires that produced airborne chemical pollutants
• Burn pits that emitted toxic particulate matter
• Contact with standard maintenance products, such as cleaning agents
• Deliberate exposure to chemical weapons for the purposes of inoculation 

It seems that Gulf War veterans with mental conditions are also more likely to have these medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. However the extent to which psychological conditions contribute to a veteran’s risk of developing Gulf War Syndrome is unknown.

What Do Gulf War Veterans Need to Prove to Get VA Disability Compensation? 

Symptoms of Gulf War illnesses may not emerge in veterans until decades after their deployments. This can make it difficult for Gulf War veterans to establish a service connection, let alone pinpoint a precise cause.

However, the VA recognizes Gulf War Syndrome as a presumptive condition for Gulf War veterans, among other medical issues. Basically, the VA is sufficiently convinced that harmful conditions during their active duty military service likely caused Gulf War veterans illnesses.

Therefore, Gulf War veterans don’t need to explain how a specific in-service event caused their chronic multisymptom illness. Instead, they need to show they meet the VA’s service requirements for Gulf War presumptive conditions.

For a VA Gulf War Syndrome claim, you need to submit evidence that you have:

• Served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations
• Experienced symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome (chronic multisymptom illness) for 6 months or more
• Had Gulf War Syndrome symptoms that presented during active duty and/or post-discharge, with a deadline of December 31, 2026
• Symptoms that align with the criteria for a 10% VA disability rating for MUCMI (or higher)

In addition to medical evidence, your military service records will be essential documentation for your Gulf War illness disability claim. They are a record that you served in a location that qualifies as a presumptive toxic exposure site during the appropriate time frame, making you eligible for VA disability benefits. 

Learn Why Gulf War Veterans Trust VetLaw With Their VA Disability Claims

Dealing with a medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness can become mentally and physically exhausting, as well as financially unsustainable, for Gulf War veterans.

At VetLaw, we believe in fair disability compensation for veterans who are still coping with the consequences of toxic exposure during their Gulf War service.

Don’t hesitate to call us at (855) 525-1710 or fill out an online contact form to schedule your free consultation. Our team can provide you with a comprehensive overview of what to expect from the VA appeal system and explain our role in that process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Gulf War veterans sign up for the Burn Pit Registry?

Most Gulf War veterans are eligible to join the VA Burn Pit Registry, even if they have not filed a VA claim for disability compensation. It can give you an idea of what service-connected disabilities, such as chronic multisymptom illnesses, may be linked to your military service and offer resources.

Can you catch Gulf War Syndrome from someone else?

At this time, the medical community does not believe that Gulf War Syndrome is communicable, meaning that you can’t “catch it” like you would catch a cold. Instead, you would need to have been exposed to the same conditions (likely toxic chemicals) as someone else in order to also develop Gulf War Syndrome.   

What are the other Persian Gulf War presumptive conditions?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, are presumptive conditions for Gulf War veterans. Additionally, the VA added sinusitis, asthma, and rhinitis to the list of presumptive conditions for Gulf War military veterans.