Gulf War Syndrome Lawyers
A disability is considered chronic if it has existed for at least six months.
Gulf War Veterans with chronic disabilities may receive disability compensation for chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses and/or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms.
With the enactment of the PACT Act on August 10, 2022, undiagnosed illnesses must be manifest to any degree at any time. Veterans no longer have to show that their conditions from the Gulf War became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a certain time frame.
This theater of operations includes 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.
Examples of symptoms of an undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness defined by a cluster of signs and symptoms include: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, signs or symptoms involving the skin, skin disorders, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological signs or symptoms, neuropsychological signs or symptoms, signs or symptoms involving the respiratory system (upper or lower), sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal signs or symptoms, cardiovascular signs or symptoms, abnormal weight loss, and menstrual disorders.
Presumptive service connection may be granted for the following infectious diseases:
- Brucellosis
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Coxiella burnetti (Q fever)
- Malaria
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Nontyphoid Salmonella
- Shigella
- Visceral leishmaniasis
- West Nile virus
Qualifying periods of service for these infectious diseases include active military, naval, or air service in the above stated Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War period of August 2, 1990, to July 30, 1991, or active military, naval, or air service on or after September 19, 2001, in Afghanistan.
Gulf War Illness and VA Disability Claims
A successful VA disability claim for Gulf War Syndrome starts with documentation of your service. Your service records can demonstrate that you spent time in parts of Southwest Asia where burn pit and other chemical hazards were present.
It is also vital to have medical records to back up your claim. When you seek treatment for your symptoms, you are creating a paper trail that can be used to strengthen your claim by showing your ongoing attempts to treat your condition.
When filing, veterans should submit VA Form 21-526EZ and provide supporting evidence such as medical records, nexus letters from physicians, and lay statements from family or fellow service members who observed changes in health after deployment. If the condition is presumptive, the process is somewhat simpler, requiring proof of deployment and diagnosis. If the condition is not presumptive, additional evidence of exposure and a strong medical opinion connecting the illness to service may be necessary.
Denials are not uncommon, particularly when symptoms are vague or documentation is incomplete. In those cases, veterans can pursue supplemental claims with new evidence, request higher-level reviews, or appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Working with accredited representatives can help ensure that every aspect of the claim is properly documented and presented.
Sources of Illnesses for Gulf War Veterans
Gulf War veterans faced exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances and environmental conditions that medical professionals still do not yet have a clear understanding of. These hazards can lead to devastating consequences, including long-lasting health issues.
Soldiers lived and worked in areas where oil well fires filled the air with toxic smoke for months, coating lungs with heavy particulates and carcinogens. Open burn pits were used to dispose of waste materials, including plastics, fuels, and chemicals, releasing dioxins and other harmful compounds into the atmosphere.
There are other factors that could lead to these health complications, including the use of preventive treatments such as pyridostigmine bromide to guard against potential nerve agent exposure. These drugs, combined with multiple vaccines administered in a short period of time, may have led to long-lasting medical complications.
The destruction of chemical weapons facilities during the Gulf War also potentially released toxic gases like sarin and cyclosarin into the air. Even the desert environment itself played a role, as dust and sand particles carried everything from metals and pesticides that were inhaled by soldiers. Together, these factors created a toxic environment that has left a legacy of illness decades after the end of the war.
Symptoms of Chronic Conditions
There are numerous symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses that are potentially linked to Gulf War Syndrome. Instead of focusing on a single symptom, your path to disability benefits likely relies on a cluster of signs and symptoms that, when taken together, suggest Gulf War Syndrome. Some examples include.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that can be contracted through contaminated food or infected animals. Gulf War veterans exposed in deployment areas may develop chronic symptoms such as fever or fatigue. This disease can linger for years, with flare-ups happening when you least expect it.
Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni is a bacterial infection commonly linked to contaminated water. For many Gulf War veterans, exposure triggers gastrointestinal illness that includes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. There is also the potential for long-term complications like irritable bowel syndrome to consider.
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
Q fever is a disease that is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It generally spreads through inhalation of contaminated dust from livestock or soil. Gulf War veterans encountered this pathogen in rural deployment areas. Chronic cases of Q fever can develop into hepatitis, endocarditis, or other serious illnesses.
Malaria
Malaria is a disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites. In some Gulf War deployments, this illness was a serious and ever-present threat. Exposure to malaria was common despite the military’s extensive attempts at preventive measures. Some strains of malaria can remain dormant in your liver, eventually leading to years later. Veterans diagnosed with malaria during or after service may be entitled to presumptive VA benefits for this condition.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria causing tuberculosis, spreads through airborne particles and thrives in crowded conditions. Untreated TB can reactivate later, leading to lung damage and other systemic complications. Because TB has a long incubation period, veterans may not show signs until years after service, making it an important presumptive condition for VA claims.
Nontyphoid Salmonella
Nontyphoid Salmonella infections arise from contaminated food or water and are a common risk in Southwest Asia. Symptoms include acute diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and nausea. While many cases resolve quickly, veterans may develop chronic complications that can last for years.
Shigella
Shigella is a bacterial infection common among Gulf War veterans. Exposure to unsanitary conditions were commonly linked to this infection, and can lead to symptoms like fever or abdominal cramps. Severe cases can cause long-lasting digestive issues and trigger post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. Shigella infections are also associated with reactive arthritis in some patients.
Visceral Leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by sandfly bites, particularly in desert regions of Southwest Asia. Veterans may develop symptoms such as prolonged fever, weight loss, fatigue, and enlargement of the spleen or liver. If untreated, it can be life-threatening. Chronic effects include weakness and susceptibility to secondary infections. Because this disease is region-specific and tied directly to deployment environments, the VA considers it a presumptive condition for Gulf War veterans with qualifying service.
West Nile Virus
West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes, and it was present in parts of Southwest Asia during Gulf War deployments. While these infections can be mild, some veterans developed devastating neurological complications like encephalitis or meningitis. The consequences of West Nile virus can become permanent in some situations.
Types of Cases
- Accrued Benefits
- Anxiety
- Burn Pits
- Camp Lejeune
- Cancer
- Death Benefits or DIC
- Defense Contractor Whistleblowers
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Agent Orange and Other Herbicides
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Gulf War Syndrome
- Gulf War Veterans with Chronic Disabilities
- Heart Disabilities and Other Cardiovascular Conditions
- Migraines
- Mental Health
- Military Sexual Trauma
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
- Orthopedic Claims
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychiatric Disability
- Schizophrenia
- Serious Neurological Disorders and Organic Brain Syndrome
- Skin Diseases
- Sleep Apnea / Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- VA Medical Malpractice
