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Gulf War Syndrome is a chronic, multi-symptom illness that affects veterans of the Persian Gulf War and those who may have been exposed to chemical, biological and/or radiological agents. The condition was first reported in 1991 by the Department of Defense and has since been studied by numerous scientists from across the country.
What is Gulf War Syndrome
Gulf War Syndrome is a term used to describe the symptoms that some veterans have experienced after serving in the Persian Gulf War. The VA estimates that more than 250,000 veterans have experienced these symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome.
Gulf War Syndrome has no single cause, but research suggests that it may be related to exposure during military service to:
Chemical warfare agents (nerve gas)
Pesticides used against insects carrying biological weapons
Military Operations & Countries Related to Gulf War Syndrome
To qualify for a service connected VA disability rating for Gulf War Syndrome Veterans must have served in at least one of the following military operations:
Operation Desert Shield – Iraq
Operation Desert Storm (1991) – Iraq, Kuwait & Saudi Arabia
Operation Restore Hope (1992-1993) – Somalia
Operation Provide Comfort – Iraq
Operation Southern Watch – Iraq
Operation Vigilant Warrior – Iraq & Kuwait
Operation Vigilant Sentinel – Iraq & Kuwait
Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, Somalia, Kyrgyzstan & Sahara Desert
Operation Iraqi Freedom – Iraq
The list of operations above shows the countries where US forces were engaged in hostilities. US forces were deployed in many additional countries as part of these military operations. To meet the criteria for a service connected claim for Gulf War Syndrome, Veterans must have served in one or more of the above operations and been deployed in at least one of the following countries:
Bahrain
Iraq
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
The Arabian Sea
The Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Oman
The neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
The Persian Gulf
The Red Sea
The United Arab Emirates
Symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Memory problems, including confusion and difficulty concentrating
Depression, anxiety, irritability and restlessness
Muscle and joint pain that worsens with exercise (known as “exertional fatigue”) or at night (known as “nocturnal myalgia”)
Headaches of a new kind (not related to sinusitis or other known causes)
Skin rashes on your face or torso that don’t go away when you stop using an irritating product
Shortness of breath when climbing stairs or walking more than two blocks at a time
VA Ratings for Gulf War Syndrome
If you have been diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome, the VA will rate your disability based on the severity of your symptoms. The VA has no specific diagnostic code for Gulf War Syndrome but will evaluate your disability rating based on the severity of your symptoms for conditions related to Gulf War Syndrome as per below:
Fibromyalgia (Diagnostic Code 5025)
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. People with Fibromyalgia may also experience increased sensitivity to pain. The VA applies the following ratings for service connected Fibromyalgia:
Mild fibromyalgia requiring continuous medication for control – 10%
Moderate fibromyalgia where, despite medication, symptoms persist for more than one-third of the time – 20%
Severe fibromyalgia where medication provides no relief from symptoms – 40%
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Diagnostic Code 6354)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis. The word chronic refers to the long-term nature of the condition although symptoms may come and go. CFS symptoms can vary greatly in severity. The VA rates CFS using the diagnostic code for infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies as follows:
Periodic symptoms resulting in incapacitation of at least one but less than two weeks in total duration per year or symptoms controlled by ongoing medication – 10%
Periodic symptoms resulting in incapacitation of at least two but less than four weeks in total duration per year or nearly perpetual symptoms that limit a vet’s daily activities by 25% or less – 20%
Periodic symptoms resulting in incapacitation of at least four but less than six weeks in total duration per year or nearly perpetual symptoms that limit a vet’s daily activities by more than 25% but less than 50% of their capacity prior to developing CFS – 40%
Periodic symptoms resulting in incapacitation of at least six weeks or nearly perpetual symptoms that limit a vet’s daily activities by more than 50% but less than 75% of their capacity prior to developing CFS – 60%
Perpetual or nearly perpetual symptoms that are so severe as to incapacitate a veteran almost completely – 100%
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Diagnostic Code 7319)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic digestive tract condition with symptoms that include stomach cramps, bloating together with diarrhoea and/or constipation. VA ratings for IBS are as follows:
Mild IBS with infrequent symptoms that cause only minimal discomfort – 0%
Moderate IBS frequent onset of abdominal discomfort – 20%
Severe IBS with constant or nearly constant abdominal discomfort – 30%
Dermatitis or Eczema (Diagnostic Code 7806)
Eczema is common among Gulf War vets due to their prolonged exposure to sand and other allergens in dessert conditions. The VA bases ratings for eczema on the severity of symptoms in the 12 months preceding a veteran’s application for benefits according to the following criteria:
Less than 5% of the entire body or less than 5% of exposed areas affected requiring only topical treatment (creams/ointments) during the preceding 12 months – 0%
At least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body, or at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of exposed areas affected or requiring corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs for not more than six weeks during the preceding 12 months – 10%
20 to 40 percent of the entire body or 20 to 40 percent of exposed areas affected, or requiring systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of six weeks requiring corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs for more than six weeks but not constantly during the preceding 12 months – 30%
More than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected, or requiring constant or near-constant corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy during the preceding 12 months – 60%
Note: Disfigurement of the head, face, or neck is covered by Diagnostic Code 7800 while scars are covered by Diagnostic Codes 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805)
Conclusion
Gulf War Syndrome can be a particularly difficult claim to get approved by the VA and Veterans often experience long waiting times to receive approval. If you are suffering from any symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome and served in any of the countries listed above VCU can greatly increase your chances of getting your claim approved while significantly reducing waiting times.
Click the button below to schedule a free 30-minute evaluation with a Veteran Specialist to fast track your claim now.