Advocates Describe Difficulties in Getting Gulf War Illness Diagnosis : U.S. Medicine

This has been an issue for 20+ years... Only now are certain major VSOs voicing concern. However, the negation of (Persian) Gulf War conditions can only be rectified by solid federal legislation, not finger shaking. Consider that the Agent Orange bill was passed 16 years post-VN war. That bill was well-crafted and -- even though the VA continued to fight it -- the law allowed a solid basis for veterans to overturn and defeat VA AO rulings and to build upon presumptives.

In contrast, it has been over 20 years and still nothing but flimsy legislation for Gulf War vets that the VA disregards at every turn. The VA has shown disdain for us, just as they did for VN vets. It has repeatedly tried to claim our issues are psychological (despite overwhelming and scholarly contradicting research) and/or minimize our conditions as 'not service connected' via semantic acrobatics. Sadly, the mortality rates for Persian Gulf Veteran are estimated as second only to VN vets regarding suicide and chronic health issues, found at statistically significant higher numbers than the general population. This should not be a surprise as nearly 80% of all Gulf War claims are denied. One thing is certain... Since over 200,000 PGW were exposed to sarin gas, possible mustard gas, oil field fires, burn pit particulates, depleted uranium, and/or untested meds., many more than reported have died than the VA will acknowledge.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2016/03/15/va-gets-f-persian-gulf-war-claims-approvals/81817420/

Tooany of my friends are dealing with this. It seems to be even more difficult for the Reserve/NG as their orders don't always clarify where they were and what they did.

As a gulf war vet with GWI (or whatever the newest name is), I understand completely the battle with VA. It is an uphill battle, to say the least!