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Gulf War Syndrome
How Can Veterans Successfully Obtain Benefits for Gulf War Syndrome?
You Can Receive Benefits if You Are a Gulf War Veteran Who Is Diagnosed With Certain Conditions.
Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), also known as ‘Desert Storm Disease’ or ‘Gulf War Illness’, includes symptoms reported by Veterans, press, and government employees of the first Gulf War.
Veterans from every country that made up the Coalition forces have been affected, and in the United States alone, more than 110,000 cases have been reported since 1999.
For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs was hesitant to validate the pain and trauma that thousands of Veterans were going through, but in August 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT ACT of 2022 and now the VA has now conceded several medical conditions to be associated with Gulf War service.
Here’s a list of medical conditions that are now considered presumptive to Gulf War service and Burn Pits:
• Brain Cancer.
• Gastrointestinal Cancer.
• Glioblastoma.
• Head Cancer.
• Kidney Cancer.
• Lymphatic Cancer.
• Lymphoma.
• Melanoma.
• Neck Cancer.
• Pancreatic Cancer.
• Reproductive Cancer.
• 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.
• Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Lung.
• Typical and Atypical Carcinoid of the Lung.
• Respiratory Cancer.
• Asthma.
• Chronic Bronchitis.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
• Chronic Rhinitis.
• Chronic Sinusitis.
• Constructive Bronchiolitis.
• Obliterative Bronchiolitis.
• Emphysema.
• Granulomatous Disease.
• Interstitial Lung Disease.
• Pleuritis.
• Pulmonary Fibrosis.
• Sarcoidosis.
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Who Are Gulf War Veterans? Do I Qualify?
In the years since the first Gulf War, the VA has expanded the definition of a Gulf War Veteran.
You are considered a Gulf War Veteran if you served in the following locations from August 2nd, 1990, to the present:
• Iraq.
• Kuwait.
• Saudi Arabia.
• The neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
• Bahrain.
• Qatar.
• The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
• Oman.
• Afghanistan.
• Israel.
• Egypt.
• Turkey.
• Syria.
• Jordan.
• Gulf of Aden.
• Gulf of Oman.
• Waters of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea.
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How Do I Prove Gulf War Syndrome to the VA?
Gulf War Veterans who meet certain criteria do not need to prove a connection between their military service and illness/illnesses to receive VA disability compensation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for six (6) months or more are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause.
The presumptive illness/illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of Military Operations or by December 31, 2021, and be at least 10% debilitating.
What Caused Gulf War Syndrome?
There were many factors present in the Gulf that could have caused these conditions.
It’s quite likely that a mixture of the following factors contributed to the illness itself:
• Burn Pit Exposure.
• Oil Well Fire Smoke Exposure.
• Infectious Diseases from Unsafe Water.
• Biological Weapons.
• Chemical Weapons.
• Pesticides and Herbicides.
• Pyridostigmine Bromide.
• Chemical Coating.
• Dumped Jet Fuel.
• Decontamination Solution.
• Depleted Uranium.
Gulf War Veterans' Medically Unexplained Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses (MUCMI)
A prominent condition that is affecting many Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that are inclusive of: fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.
Gulf War Veterans who meet the criteria below do not need to prove a connection between their military service and illnesses to receive VA disability compensation.
These “presumptive” illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2026, and be at least 10 percent disabling.
These illnesses include:
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): This is a condition of long-term and severe fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions.
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain. Other symptoms may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems.
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: These are commonly known as a group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract.
This can be such things as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS).
Some Veterans may also experience undiagnosed illnesses that have symptoms including but not limited to the following:
• Abnormal Weight Loss.
• Fatigue.
• Cardiovascular Disease.
• Muscle and Joint Pain.
• Headache.
• Menstrual Disorders.
• Neurological and Psychological Problems.
• Skin Conditions.
• Respiratory Disorders.
• Sleep Disturbances.
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If you, or someone you love, is having a tough time with the Department of Veterans Affairs and claiming the benefits needed to sustain a comfortable quality of life, do not wait another minute – contact us today! We are always available by phone at (866) 866-VETS.
Our firm works on contingency, so there are no fees whatsoever unless we win your claim for benefits.
We are accredited to stand for you anywhere within the United States, so even if you cannot make it to one of our many offices, we can still help you along the way.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost To Hire You?
It does not cost you anything to hire our Veterans Benefits Law Firm as your attorneys. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe us anything unless we win you an award. Our firm charges 20%, which is deducted by the VA from your lump sum payment for retroactive benefits.
How Long Will It Take To Appeal My Benefits Denial?
While it can take six months or more for a Veteran to receive a decision on his or her initial benefits claim from the Department of Veterans Affairs, appeals could take 2 years of more. The Department of Veterans Affairs lacks the funding to properly staff and process benefits applications. The number of applications from recently returning Veterans must be dealt with while the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to actively work towards providing services to prior generations of Veterans.
How Do I Increase My Disability Rating?
Great question! If the condition that you are actively receiving disability benefits for has now ultimately worsened over time, you can file an increased rating claim. It’s fairly simple, and it involves filing out an online claim form or mailing a letter to your regional office documenting the change in your condition.
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All communication with the Department of Veterans Affairs can be conducted remotely; personal appearances are not required.
Our law firm is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist Veterans anywhere across the United States.
Furthermore, our clients do not need to go to a physical location or visit an office to receive our help. If there are any medical visits that are applicable to your claim, you can be seen at a facility that is close to your home. So, no matter where you are, if you need help, we’re here to fight for you the same way that you bravely fought to protect us.
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