Noteboom The Law Firm

Gulf War Veterans Encouraged to Seek VA Care

April 28, 2010 - A recent study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine concluded that in some veterans, Gulf War deployment is a cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as a host of other medical issues. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is encouraging every Gulf War veteran with medical symptoms to seek treatment from the VA.

Gulf War veterans are encouraged to choose VA care over private health care to allow the VA to chart their medical information in order to be able to search for a cause of their medical symptoms. Gulf War veterans are still under the umbrella of VA high-priority VA care according to a Congressional mandate and the VA is urging them to take advantage of as much health care as possible.

Many Gulf War veterans are suffering from symptoms but remain undiagnosed, which is one of the reasons veterans are urged to find VA help. The study found sufficient evidence linking Gulf War service to PTSD as well as other psychological problems to include:

• Anxiety;
• Substance abuse; and
• Gastrointestinal issues.

 There was no sufficient evidence found linking Gulf War deployments to cancers, respiratory illness, or neurological diseases among many other ailments. The study did conclude, however, there was limited evidence suggesting a possible connection between Gulf War service and:  

• ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease);
• Fibromvalgia; and
• Sexual difficulties.

 The VA health care system routinely treats symptoms with no knowledge of the reason for the symptoms. You do not have to be diagnosed with Gulf War Illness to receive health care from the VA. Between August 1990 and July 1991 almost 700,000 soldiers were deployed to the Persian Gulf. Of those, 250,000 soldiers still suffer from ongoing and mysterious symptoms.

Gulf War combat operations only lasted 100 days. Because of this short duration, many soldiers left military service before the development of any symptoms and were never given post-deployment health exams.

Gulf war veterans continue to provide the military with the ability to learn from their experiences. Research is a fine goal and hopefully it helps with future treatment of soldiers. Right now, however, it is important those veterans suffering from their Gulf War deployment receive help.