It's time to help veterans with Gulf War illness
posted: November 20, 2008

What will the government do to make veterans with Gulf War syndrome whole?

The question has new urgency in the aftermath of a report, released Monday, concluding that nearly 200,000 soldiers suffer from the syndrome.

The 452-page report is the first to affirm that Gulf War illness is valid and widespread, affecting as many as one-quarter of veterans from the 1990-1991 conflict.

"The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real...and that few veterans have recovered of substantially improved with time," says the comprehensive overview, prepared by the government's Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses.

The syndrome was caused by soldiers' widespread exposure to pesticides and the drug pyridostigmine bromide, meant to protect against nerve gas, the panel suggests. Low-level exposures to nerve agents, smoke from oil well fires, vaccines, and other neurotoxic agents may also have contributed.

Dozens of research studies indicate that affected soldiers show biological impacts on their brains, autonomic nervous systems, as well as neuroendocrine and immune changes, according to a write-up in ScienceDaily.

Previously, several studies from the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academies of Science, failed to reach that conclusion, citing insufficient or weak evidence.

For years, veterans were told they were suffering mental health ailments when they complained of some or all of the commonly reported symptoms -- memory and concentration problems, headaches, fatigue, pain, and sometimes skin rashes, digestive problems, and respiratory symptoms.

"Their complaints are met with cynicism and a 'blame the victim' mentality that attributes that health problems to mental illness or non-physical factors," said the committee's scientific director, Roberta White, dean of Boston University's school of public health, quoted in Agence France-Presse.

Also, the Veterans Administration routinely withheld medical care and denied disability claims based on disabilities attributed to Gulf War syndrome.

According to the National Gulf War Veterans Resource Center, after the new report was published, the phone began ringing with calls from Gulf War vets asking "Will our care finally change? Will the VA treat this as real physical damage now instead of constantly referring us to psychology? Will I finally get my claim for Gulf War illness approved?"

The answers aren't available yet, and it will be important to see how the VA responds.

The agency is already overwhelmed with demands for care and disability benefits by veterans from Vietnam and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, funding has been cut for research devoted to finding treatments for Gulf War illness.

That needs to change, the committee said, calling for an additional $60 million a year in research funding. President-elect Barack Obama may well heed that call; he's devoted a considerable amount of attention to veterans health issues.

The new report is a "blueprint for the new Administration to focus resources on improving the health of Gulf War veterans and avoiding similar consequences in future military deployments," said panel chair James Binns, a former principal deputy assistant Secretary of Defense, quoted in ScienceDaily.

Meanwhile, the Internet has been alight over the past few days with comments from Gulf War veterans expressing relief and sadness that it's taken so long for their illnesses to be officially recognized. You can hear that mix of emotions in comments from dozens of people who wrote in to CNN's Web site, including those I've included below:

"I have been sick since returning in 91 with sinus infections, etc. Fortunately I had private health insurance. I received notice from DOD stating possible exposure to sarin/cyclo-sarin along with fires, pb tabs, etc.. Later, I lost the hearing in my rt ear and severe migraines. I have been struggling to work since then. To date VA offered $117, appeals pending. Social Security pending and my long term disability thru employer pending. If it wasn't for my family/friends we would be out on the street. The truth does come out. It is nice to know it is not in your head. Must continue to hang on to what is right."-- Wendy

"My husband served in the Gulf. Upon his return his health began to decline-headaches, joint pains, memory loss, rashes, stomach aches...I am a nurse and I have witnessed him wither away from a vibrant young school principal to a man confined to the bed most days. The most disheartening aspect in all of this is the VA attempted to discredit his symptoms. We were lucky to have had private insurance and a determination not to give up or take no for an answer." -- Michelle


"I am a Gulf War Vet. and I have lots of health problems. I have known for years that it was caused by whatever happened in the Gulf War. Within 6 months I had Cronic skin rashes, new allergies I never had before, along with many other issues, chronic fatigue just being one of them. When I went to the VA hospital the officer I talked to outright told me I would not get ANYTHING, EVER if I made a claim. They wait as long as possible to come clean on the truth, because the longer they wait, the more sick vetrans die, and the less claims they have to pay. It all comes down to reducing dollar cost. It is a sad truth." -- John

"The VA sent my unit a letter after we returned from Iraq stating that our camp had been "downwind" of a Iraq nerve agent depo the army blew up. The VA letter minimized the danger with statements like "probably few effects", "minimal concerns", and no studies show "long term danger of such exposure". Then every few years they re-send a letter after "computer modeling" still shows our camp downwind of the nerve agent. The way they have minimized the event would be funny if it was not so sad. So far I feel lucky having no great health concerns though at times I worry my memory was affected... Each day I hope and pray that those returning from this war don't get the same treatment those of Vietnam and the First Gulf War got from the VA, though from what I've heard not much as changed. Brad

"I was a member in the theater of Operation Desert Storm, from behind the line duties to being in the areas when bunkers were blown up and oil wells on fire, no one can ever tell me that the Gulf War Syndrome isn't real, report or no report. I've seen most of my buddies pass away from illnesses that were attributed from that time, with only two of us left. It's a shame that they waiting so long in telling the truth to us Veterans that were so willing to serve our country, it's a disgrace being lied to for 17 years."-- Strick

"My squadron was the "first in/last out" of the Iraqi AOR. Our mission was to fly Navy C-9 transports up and down the Arabian Gulf during the buildup to the air war and subsequent ground invasion. We flew bombs, ordnance, supplies and injured personnel. Result? Out of 100 aircrew exposed from Dec '90 to March '91, we have already lost two to ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease. May they rest in peace. Others are also sick. The host of experimental drug "prophylaxes" and antidotes for percieved threats we were forced under penalty of UCMJ prosecution to take, from nerve gas agents to malaria and anthrax, were a toxic coctail, a recipe from hell. I avoided them at all costs, but still keep praying for my fellow vets."-- Phil

"I was in the Marines 2 years before I went to the Gulf. Within 6 months of returning, my medical record was 2 - 3 times as thick as it was before I left. Headaches, dizziness, rashes, gastro problems... I just had a CAT scan last month for unexplained headaches and dizziness. My stomach's out of whack at least once a week. No rashes in a while, thank God. Let's see. That was 17, 18 years ago and they just decided it's real. A great way to be paid back for your service."--David


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