Gulf War Illness is an illness that some Gulf War Veterans have aquired. It's an undiagnosed and diagnosed illness that's been very difficult to pin point the causes of it and the results.
The following is from a VA handout.
Gulf War Veterans (Undiagnosed Illness)
Served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War with condition at least 10 percent disabling by 12/31/11.Included medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms that have existed for six months or more, such as:
Chronic fatigue syndrome Fibromyalgia Irritable bowel syndrome Any diagnosed or undiagnosed illness that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines warrants a presumption of service connection.
Signs or symptoms of an undiagnosed illness include:
fatigue, skin symptoms, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological symptoms, respiratory symptoms, sleep disturbance, GI symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, weight loss and menstrual disorders.
What this means is that if you're diagnosed with some of those symptoms, like fatigue and sleep disturbance, you might have an illness like Chronic fatigue syndrome which means you might have Gulf War Illness and you might be eligible for Disability Compensation.To find out if you qualify, you’d have to take a Gulf War physical through the VA.
For a Gulf War Physical, call: 1-800-827-1000 Special Health Issues Helpline: 1-800-749-8387 VA Health Eligibility/Enrollment: 1-877-222-8387
Now here’s the problem.No matter how much the VA says that there’s “One VA”, VA hospitals may not know everything that the VA Administration is doing.Don’t be surprised if the VA hospital you contact doesn’t know anything about the Gulf War Physical.It might take them a while before they’re able to do Gulf War Physicals.
For more information you can go directly to the VA or your department of veterans affairs for your state. If you want to file a claim, contact the department of veterans affairs for your state. You can also go to your state American Legion or VFW Service Officer. (You don't have to be a member of either organization for them to help you.) Do not go directly to the VA. Use one of the above references to file a claim.