The criteria for eligibility include being a Veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War, being diagnosed with a qualifying illness and having filed a claim within the required time frame. If you meet these criteria, you can begin the application process by submitting Form VA 21-526, Application for Disability Compensation and/or Pension.
Do I qualify for Gulf War syndrome benefits?
Gulf War veterans that served in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations may have eligible GWS claims. However, you cannot file a Gulf War Syndrome claim if you: Eligible veterans have until December 31, 2021 to claim VA benefits for Gulf War Syndrome.
What is Gulf War syndrome and how does it affect you?
The VA describes Gulf War Syndrome as a whole cluster of chronic symptoms that can’t be explained medically. These symptoms often include memory impairment, respiratory disorders, dizziness, joint pain, insomnia, headaches, joint pain, fatigue, and even skin problems.
What is the deadline for Gulf War Syndrome claims?
The VA has extended the Gulf War Syndrome deadline by 5 years! Big news for 2022! The VA recently extended the Gulf War presumptive deadline to December 31, 2026. Congress has given you five additional years to file! Before the extension,you would have had to meet a December 31, 2021 deadline if claiming Gulf war presumptives.
What is Gulf War service for VA benefits?
Gulf War Service. For VA benefit purposes under 38 CFR 3.317, Gulf War service is active military duty in any of the following areas in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations at any time August 2, 1990 to present. This includes Veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010) and Operation New Dawn (2010-2011).
How do you qualify for Gulf War Syndrome?
However, to be eligible for benefits for “Gulf War Syndrome,” you must receive a 10 percent disability rating or higher. A rating of 30 percent or higher qualifies you for additional benefits for any dependent living in your home (e.g., spouse, children, dependent parents).
Can I file a claim for Gulf War Syndrome?
A claim for VA disability benefits available to Gulf War veterans must include military records of service in the Southwest Asia theater or Afghanistan, as well as available medical records of treatmentand/or diagnosis of the disability and/or illness.
What disabilities have the VA presumed to be related to Gulf War service?
The VA has extended the Gulf War Syndrome deadline by 5 years!...Symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnessesChronic fatigue.Headaches.Joint pain.Muscle pain.Skin symptoms.Indigestion.Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)Dizziness and other neurological symptoms.More items...•
What percentage disability is Gulf War Syndrome?
You can get disability benefits for your illness or condition if you have a disability rating of 10% or more and you have one of these presumptive diseases: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Visceral leishmaniasis.
Does the VA acknowledge Gulf War Syndrome?
Disability compensation for Veterans VA has recognized medically unexplained illnesses (popularly called "Gulf War Syndrome") and certain infectious diseases as associated with military service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations.
Is sleep apnea related to Gulf War Syndrome?
Many Gulf War Veterans exhibit symptoms of what the VA has described as a “chronic multi-symptom illness,” which is often known as Gulf War Syndrome. Respiratory disorders, including sleep apnea, are included in the long list of symptoms linked to Gulf War Symptoms.
What benefits do Gulf War veterans have?
Gulf War Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial.
Does Gulf War Syndrome qualify for CRSC?
A veteran whose injury or condition is caused by Agent Orange would also be considered to be “combat-related” as an “instrumentality of war.” Furthermore exposure to radiation, mustard gas, and Gulf War disease would qualify for CRSC.
Can the VA deny a presumptive disability?
Any disabilities must have a clear in-service connection, or else the VA will deny the claim. However, there is an exception: the VA's presumptive conditions list. If you suffer from a condition on this list, you don't have to prove an in-service link, and it doesn't have to appear on your service medical records.
Are Gulf War veterans considered combat veterans?
Combat Service. Veterans who served in combat during a period of war after the Gulf War, or against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, qualify, and are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for 2 years after discharge from the military for any illness.
How do I prove IBS for VA disability?
You'll need to show a nexus — a link that connects your disability to a specific in-service event, injury, or illness. Your claim should include a nexus letter from your physician(s). A nexus letter is a letter to the VA explaining how your IBS was incurred or caused during service.
What does the VA consider a Gulf War Veteran?
For VA benefits eligibility purposes, the Gulf War period is still in effect, meaning that anyone who served on active duty from August 2, 1990 to present is considered a Gulf War Veteran.
What is Gulf War Syndrome?
Gulf War Syndrome is a condition that affects about 36% of Gulf War veterans. It may include several medically unexplained chronic illnesses or symptoms, such as: The Department of Veterans Affairs refers to Gulf War Syndrome as “chronic multi-symptom illness” and “undiagnosed illnesses.”. The VA prefers not to call it “Gulf War Syndrome,” ...
How long do you have to be in the Gulf War to qualify for VA disability?
No other cause must exist for your disability or illness other than Gulf War military service. Your symptoms must last 6 months or longer to qualify. You must submit medical evidence showing regular treatments for your condition, or the VA may require a medical exam. In addition, Gulf War vets with infectious diseases ...
Does the VA deny Gulf War disability?
The VA denies most Gulf War Syndrome disability claims , according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report. Why? The GAO report shows up to 90% of VA medical examiners aren’t trained to diagnose Gulf War Syndrome. That’s because the VA made this specific type of exam training optional.
Can Gulf War Syndrome be a VA disability?
Gulf War Syndrome is now an accepted medical condition. For this reason, disabled vets with Gulf War Syndrome can apply for monthly VA disability benefits .
Can Gulf War syndrome be called Gulf War Syndrome?
The VA prefers not to call it “Gulf War Syndrome,” since symptoms can vary so widely. Experts believe exposure to chemicals and other airborne hazards may cause Gulf War Syndrome. Gulf War vets whose symptoms last 6 months or longer may qualify for VA “presumptive disability” status.
Can you file for VA disability without a diagnosis?
Undiagnosed Illnesses & Symptoms That May Qualify for VA Disability. Even without an official diagnosis from your doctor, you can still file a Gulf War Syndrome claim. Some Gulf War Syndrome symptoms that may qualify without a doctor’s diagnosis include: Gulf War vets with chronic stomach issues may also qualify.
What are the benefits of the Gulf War?
military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial.
What are the presumptive diseases of Gulf War veterans?
For Gulf War Veterans, these presumptive diseases include: Medically unexplained illnesses (popularly called "Gulf War Syndrome").
How to apply for VA benefits?
Generally, Servicemembers, Veterans, and families can apply for VA benefits using one of the methods below. Apply online using eBenefits, OR. Work with an accredited representative or agent, OR. Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you.
Is the Gulf War still in effect?
For VA benefits eligibility purposes, the Gulf War period is still in effect. This means that anyone who served on active duty from August 2, 1990, to present is considered a Gulf War Veteran. For example, the Veterans Pension benefit requires service during a wartime period. Therefore, any Veteran who served on active military service ...
Why is it so hard to get help for Gulf War veterans?
Gulf War Syndrome is without a doubt one of those conditions, and this means that getting help in the form of Gulf War Veteran benefits is often difficult simply because the effects of the condition can make it next to impossible to function on any given day. In situations like these, you deserve to get the help you need.
What is Gulf War Syndrome?
These prominent conditions that affect Gulf War Veterans have come to be called, collectively, “Gulf War Syndrome”, and while not every Gulf War Veteran faces Gulf War Syndrome, many of these Veterans do – and that means that these issues are often addressed through Gulf War Veteran benefits. The VA describes Gulf War Syndrome as a whole cluster ...
What are the conditions that are considered undiagnosed in the Gulf War?
Meanwhile, the VA also makes it a requirement for any Veteran applying for Gulf War Veteran benefits to also have at least one of the following illnesses or conditions: Any other “undiagnosed illness”, including but not limited to headaches, muscle and joint pain, and cardiovascular disease.
What diseases were there during the Gulf War?
These include a wide variety of issues, such as infectious diseases like West Nile Virus and shingles that are endemic to certain areas.
How long do you have to be sick to serve in the Gulf War?
You also need to satisfy all of the following requirements: Your medical issues began while serving before 2017 (December 31, 2016 to be precise) You were sick for a period of at least six months.
Why is the VA special?
The VA offers special services to these Veterans of many kinds, especially because anyone serving during this time qualifies as serving during wartime. This is an important distinction because these Veterans are eligible for a number of benefits that are only available to those who served in wartime. In addition, there are quite a few other ...
How long do you have to be sick to qualify for VA disability?
You were sick for a period of at least six months. You qualify for a minimum VA disability rating of 10%. The condition was caused specifically by your service in the Gulf region, often referred to as “the Southwest Asia theater of operations” by the VA.
What are the symptoms of Gulf War veterans?
These symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following: Sustained and debilitating fatigue. Headaches and migraines. Joint pain and discomfort.
When did the Persian Gulf War start?
For VA purposes, the Persian Gulf War refers to service in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations beginning on August 2, 1990.
What is a qualifying chronic disability?
A qualifying chronic disability means a chronic disability resulting from “an undiagnosed illness” or a MUCMI defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms.
What were the environmental hazards during the PGW?
Among the environmental hazards during PGW were: smoke from over 750 Kuwaiti oil well fires; pesticides/insecticide use, including personal flea collars; indigenous infectious diseases, such as leishmaniasis; solvents and fuels; ingestion of pyridostigmine bromide tablets on a daily basis as a nerve gas antidote; the combined effect of multiple vaccines; and inhalation of ultra-fine-grain sand particles. Veterans began reporting chronic debilitating medical symptoms that typically included some combination of chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, widespread bodily pain, unexplained fatigue, chronic diarrhea, respiratory problems, and other abnormalities.
What wars did Desert Storm and Desert Shield serve?
Veterans of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield meet the criteria for qualifying service during the Persian Gulf War, as do veterans of Operation New Dawn (OND), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and in some instances, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Which group of veterans had the highest prevalence of CMI/GWI?
The study found that CMI/GWI prevalence increased substantially over the study period among all groups of veterans (i.e., Gulf War veterans, Gulf War era veterans, and non-era personnel). However, Gulf War veterans had the highest prevalence of CMI/GWI across the study period.
Can you get VA disability for Gulf War symptoms?
If you are a Gulf War veteran and later experienced any of the above symptoms, you may be eligible to receive veterans (VA) disability compensation for a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) or an undiagnosed illness, both of which are included under the umbrella term “Gulf War Syndrome.”. 33:41.
What are some presumptive diseases?
And you have one of these presumptive diseases: Functional gastrointestinal disorders. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Other undiagnosed illnesses, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, and headaches.
Can you get disability if you served in the Gulf War?
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you served in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations during the Gulf War period and you didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
Gulf War Illness Presumptive Conditions
Gulf War Syndrome impacts thousands of veterans who deployed to the Persian Gulf during their service. Also known as Gulf War Illness, the term refers to a list of disabilities that can be claimed.
What is Gulf War Syndrome?
Nearly 1 in 4 veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War during Desert Shield and Desert Storm experience chronic illness. That’s about 250,000 veterans! Even though the Gulf War was over 30 years ago, nearly 25 percent of those who served suffer from challenges related to their service there.
What are the common symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome?
The VA classifies Gulf War Syndrome into two categories of qualifying chronic disabilities.
What infectious diseases are associated with the Gulf War?
The VA has identified nine infectious diseases associated with the Gulf War. However, in order to receive disability benefits from the VA based on presumptive service connection, you must have a diagnosis of one of these within the VA’s timeframe shown below.
How does presumptive service connection work?
The VA presumes that certain conditions are caused by military service. Gulf War-related disabilities such as medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness are only one group of presumptives. Examples of other presumptive conditions include veteran exposure to Agent Orange or burn pit exposure.
Who qualifies as a Persian Gulf War Veteran?
In order to win a VA disability claim that includes Gulf War presumptive conditions, you must be a Persian Gulf War veteran.
The VA has extended the Gulf War Syndrome deadline by 5 years!
Big news for 2022! The VA recently extended the Gulf War presumptive deadline to December 31, 2026. Congress has given you five additional years to file!
What is the Gulf War Registry?
VA’s Gulf War Registry Health Exam alerts Veterans to possible long-term health problems that may be related to environmental exposures during their military service. The registry data helps VA understand and respond to these health problems more effectively.
Is it necessary to enroll in VA health care?
Enrollment in VA's health care system not necessary. Based on Veterans’ recollection of service, not on their military records. Veterans can receive additional registry exams, if new problems develop. Veterans' family members are not eligible for registry exams.
Do you have to be enrolled in VA health care to take part in the Gulf War?
You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to take part.
Can veterans file for disability for Gulf War?
Veterans who want to be considered for disability compensation for health problems related to Gulf War service must file a claim for disability compensation. During the claims process, VA will set up a separate exam for compensation if necessary. return to top.
Gulf War Veterans
- More than 650,000 Service members served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991. For VA benefits eligibility purposes, the Gulf War period is still in effect. This means that anyone who served on active duty from August 2, 1990, to present is considered a Gulf War Veteran. For example, the Veterans Pension benefit requires service durin…
VA Benefits
- Gulf War Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial. See our Veteranspage for an overview of the benefits available to all Veterans.
Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
- Certain illnesses and diseases are "presumed" by VA to be related to your military service in designated areas of Southwest Asia and may entitle you to VA disability compensation benefits. For Gulf War Veterans, these presumptive diseases include: 1. Medically unexplained illnesses (popularly called "Gulf War Syndrome"). 2. Certain infectious diseases. 3. Amyotrophic lateral scl…
How to Apply
- The specific VA benefit or program web page will provide tailored information about how to apply for a particular benefit or program. Generally, Servicemembers, Veterans, and families can apply for VA benefits using one of the methods below. 1. Apply online using eBenefits, OR 2. Work with an accredited representative or agent, OR 3. Go to a VA reg...