The Gulf War Veterans' Illness Research Program (GWVIRP) got a recent $10 million boost after Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Michael Michaud (D-ME) championed the cause. The program focuses on identifying treatments for those veterans with disabilities who served in the first Gulf War and suffer from the mysterious illness, according to an article on MenaFM.com.
The GWVIRP aims to help the more than 250,000 veterans who suffer from Gulf War Syndrome. Additionally, research into the syndrome may help protect veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in the event that they too suffer similar health maladies after deployment in a similar region in the Middle East.
Almost 1/3 of Gulf War veterans suffer from chronic and unrelenting symptoms. These symptoms are not able to be “explained by traditional medical or psychiatric diagnoses.” Symptoms commonly associated with Gulf War syndrome include:
- · widespread pain;
- · unexplainable fatigue;
- · unending headaches;
- · gastrointestinal problems;
- · cognitive problems; and
- · severe respiratory symptoms.
As we are moving closer to 20 years since the end of the Gulf War, research is showing veterans with Gulf War Syndrome are developing ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at twice the rate of those soldiers who never deployed. Early research has also indicated there may be “connections” to both Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
The GWVIRP has made significant strides recently, to include a “successful pilot study of a medication to treat one of the major symptoms of Gulf War Veterans Illness.” The $10 million will be used to improve the health of veterans and soldiers alike.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Category: Veterans' Disability
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Soldiers can return home with a number of conditions, injuries, and aggravated preexisting conditions. If you believe you have a service-connected physical or psychological injury you may be entitled to Veterans’ Disability Compensation.