What was Gulf War Syndrome?

A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.

What is the cause of Gulf War Syndrome?

What are the possible causes of Gulf War syndrome? Possible causes include: Chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve gas, or pyridostigmine bromide, which was given as a preventive measure to soldiers likely to be exposed to chemical warfare agents. Psychological factors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

What are some illness associated with the Gulf War?

Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.

What illness did some Gulf War veterans get from Desert Storm?

Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) is also known as 'Desert Storm Diseases' or simply 'Gulf War Illness. ' This condition includes symptoms that have been reported by U.S. military veterans, press, and government employees of the first Gulf War (as early as August 1990).

What is the VA disability rating for Gulf War Syndrome?

However, to be eligible for benefits for “Gulf War Syndrome,” you must receive a 10 percent disability rating or higher. A rating of 30 percent or higher qualifies you for additional benefits for any dependent living in your home (e.g., spouse, children, dependent parents).

What is Gulf War Illness | Symptoms of Gulf War Illness | Gulf War Syndrome

Who is eligible for Gulf War Syndrome?

A Gulf War veteran of the post-9/11 era may qualify for disability benefits if he or she suffers from such unexplained, chronic symptoms as: Fatigue. Headaches. Joint pain.

Are Gulf War veterans considered combat veterans?

Combat Service.

Veterans who served in combat during a period of war after the Gulf War, or against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, qualify, and are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for 2 years after discharge from the military for any illness.

What is the pill in Jarhead?

The PB pills the Marines are issued are pyridostigmine bromide pills. They were designed to increase the effects of the atropine and oxime postexposure antidote that is self-administered to reduce the chances of dying from nerve agents such as soman.

Is PTSD a presumptive condition for Gulf War veterans?

Gulf War Connected Illnesses

Gulf War veterans who have received a valid diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be granted if the illness is associated with an in-service stressful event. The VA presumes certain medically unexplained illnesses are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause.

Is Gulf War syndrome hereditary?

The findings show that HLA affects neural synchrony and predicts symptom types, and they indicate that Gulf War illness is caused by the interactions of genetics and exposures.

Can Desert Storm veterans give blood?

Desert Storm Veterans Now May Donate Blood; Others Call for Discussion of Donor Tests.

Is there a test for Gulf War Syndrome?

The Gulf War Registry health exam is a free evaluation for Veterans who served in the Gulf during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, or New Dawn. Veterans can learn about possible health problems related to environmental exposures during military service.

Is arthritis part of Gulf War Syndrome?

After resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, nonspecific inflammatory polyarthritis and/or psoriatic arthritis has been shown to be causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's military service during the Persian Gulf War. 2.

Why do veterans get ALS?

Factors that might feed into the increased risk of ALS in veterans include exposure to lead, pesticides or other environmental contacts, use of tobacco or alcohol or extreme physical exertion.

Is Gulf War syndrome contagious?

Gulf War Syndrome May Be Contagious, Survey Shows : Health: Results of government study find significant numbers of veterans' spouses, children exhibiting symptoms of the mysterious illnesses.

Is sleep apnea service connected for Gulf War veterans?

Sleep apnea is not considered a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange or ionized radiation, or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. However, veterans of the Persian Gulf War may be entitled to presumptive service connection for their sleep apnea.

When did the VA recognize Gulf War Syndrome?

In 1994, lawmakers passed legislation to allow VA to pay benefits to Gulf War veterans for service-related disabilities caused by undiagnosed illnesses, such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headaches, menstrual disorders, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and neurological and psychological disorders.

What are the symptoms of Desert Storm syndrome?

The symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, bowel discomfort, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, skin problems and memory impairment. VA clinicians and researchers often call this condition “Gulf War illness” in medical literature.

How many Gulf War veterans are still alive?

During January 2021, VA will profile these Veterans in a series of stories for Desert Storm's 30^th anniversary. More than 2.2 million U.S. service members served during the era and an estimated 694,550 deployed to the Gulf. An estimated 1.68 million Veterans from that era are still alive.

What chemical is in Desert Storm?

Chemical-warfare agents detected by Coalition forces during the Gulf War include the nerve agents tabun (GA), sarin (GB), and cyclosarin (GF) and the blister agents sulfur-mustard and lewisite.

Was Jarhead Based on a true story?

"Jarhead" was directed by Sam Mendes and is based on Anthony Swofford's memoir of the first gulf war. The commercial showed marines in the desert hurrying to don their chemical protection gear.

How does Gulf war syndrome affect the brain?

In veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Illness, we measured higher levels of a molecule called translocator protein that increases when neuroinflammation is present and found it in many parts of the brain, including those involved in complex brain functions, such as memory and reasoning.

How old is the average Gulf War veterans?

More than half of Gulf War veterans are aged 45 and older (16% are between 55 and 85 years; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2011) and 8% of people deployed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were born before 1960 (Dursa, Reinhard, Barth, & Schneiderman, 2014).

How do I prove I am a combat veteran?

Combat Veteran Veterans can prove that they fall under this category through military service documentation that shows their service in a combat theater, proof that they received a combat service medal or campaign medal, and/or proof of receipt of imminent danger pay or hostile fire pay.

Is hypertension presumptive to Gulf War?

Certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular-renal disease (including hypertension), are presumed to have been incurred in service if manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from service. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1112, 1113; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307, 3.309(a).