Gulf War Presumptive Conditions

Many Gulf War veterans across the U.S. have faced numerous health issues that have been called Gulf War Illness or Gulf War Syndrome. These conditions cause chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, joint pain, respiratory issues, memory recall problems, insomnia and dizziness.

Because of the widespread effect of these symptoms, the VA has established a policy for presumptive conditions that eliminate the need for a Gulf War Veteran to prove a connection between their military service and illnesses if the symptoms last for six months or longer. The VA will presume the problems are related to the Gulf War service time regardless of the cause.

What conditions does this include?

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – long-term, severe fatigue that is not remedied with rest and is not caused by another existing condition.
• Fibromyalgia – widespread muscle pain that causes insomnia, stiffness, headaches and problems with memory.
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders – chronic or continuing problems with any area of the gastrointestinal tract and can include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia and functional abdominal pain syndrome.
• Undiagnosed illnesses – conditions can include a wide array of problems such as abnormal weight loss, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychological issues, rash or other skin problem, muscle and joint pain, menstrual disorder, respiratory disorders, fatigue, headaches and sleep problems.

What constitutes Gulf War service?

The Gulf War encompasses active military duty in the Southwest Asia Theater starting with the first Gulf War in August 1990 and including Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 – 2010 and Operation New Dawn 2010 – 2011. The geographical locations of service include: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea and the airspace above these locations.

The attorneys at Jan Dils find great satisfaction in assisting veterans with their benefits. If you need help filing for presumptive VA benefits or appealing a claim related to presumptive conditions from the Gulf War, do not hesitate to call to schedule a free consultation.