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Complaints of memory and concentration problems, headaches, pain and fatigue among Gulf War vets have often fallen on deaf ears – until now. A Department of Veterans Affairs advisory panel has concluded that Gulf War syndrome is a real illness affecting at least 174,000 soldiers, a quarter of those who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf conflict.

“The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is the result of neurotoxic exposures during Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans [suffering from it] have recovered or substantially improved with time,” says a report by the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses released yesterday.

Pyridostigmine bromide, a muscle stimulant that the military gave troops to protect them against nerve gas, and fly-killing pesticides sprayed in living and dining quarters – as well as on uniforms and tents – were both associated with the syndrome, the panel said. But it didn’t rule out exposure to nerve agents, smoke from oil-well fires, multiple vaccinations or some combination as other possible causes.  

Gulf War vets also suffer higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or the degenerative nerve condition Lou Gehrig’s disease, than other vets. And fatal brain cancers are twice as common among troops who were downwind of demolitions of Iraqi munitions near the area of Khamisiyah in the country’s south than other soldiers who served in the war, the report noted.

Previous studies – including one released in 2000 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) – blamed stress or unknown causes for the symptoms. Those findings were "skewed" and the studies should be redone, said the congressionally mandated panel of scientists and veterans appointed by VA Secretary James Peake.

But Harold Sox, chairman of the 2000 IOM study, denied that research was shoddy and questioned whether the panel's conclusions are correct. "There's something about going to the Gulf and serving in the Gulf that has caused something bad and persistent and real, but we have not found any evidence for a specific cause," Sox told the Los Angeles Times. 

James Binns, the committee's chairman, disagreed. “Government has been very slow to accept what the research shows," Binns said, according to McClatchy Newspapers. "These problems have for too long been denied or trivialized."

Image of soldier by iStockphoto/Jon Gorr                                 

3 Comments

1. 1. jagmedic 10:17 AM 11/19/08

   This Committee is asking for written comments for Veterans
   
   This Committee is allowing Vets to speak before them, during Public Coment Sessions.
   
   This Committee is allowing Vets to Teleconferece - hearing sessions by telephone.
   
   Silence is not an Option ! http://www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee
   
   VA - Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans
   
   Department of Veterans Affairs
   
   Office of Policy and Planning (008A1)
   
   810 Vermont Ave, Washington, DC 20420
   
   202-461-5758 Lelia P. Jackson, Policy Analyst ,lelia.jackson@va.gov
   
   Additionally, the Committee will meet with a panel of Gulf War veterans who reside in the Baltimore area. Gulf War veterans living in the Baltimore area who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during 1990-1991 wishing to participate in the panel should contact Lelia Jackson
   
   Public comments will be received on November 19, from 1 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. and on November 20, from 11:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Individuals wishing to speak must register not later than November 14 by contacting Ms. Jackson and by submitting 1-2 page summary of their comments for inclusion in the official record. Public comments will be limited to five minutes each. A sign-in sheet will be available each day. Members of the public may also submit written statements for the Committee's review Interested parties may also listen in by teleconferencing into the meeting.
   
   The toll-free teleconference line will be open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on November 19 and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on November 20. To register for the teleconference, contact Ms. Jackson. Any member of the public seeking additional information should contact Laura O'Shea,
   

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2. 2. ZenaV 01:28 PM 11/21/08

   They don't want to spend money on citizens, only illegals and their rich buddies.

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3. 3. steelrainsi91 08:17 AM 12/7/08

   To Whom It May Concern:
   
   My name is Mike and I am a sick Gulf War Veteran. I will make this as short as possible and that will not be easy.
   
   I served for Ten years on active duty and a few in the National Guard. I am very proud of my service and wish I could still serve. In short I am Airborne Qualified, 63TD3P20 Soldier. I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for my performance during the War. I have also been awarded the Army Commendation medal and 5 Army achievement medals and many others. I was an E5-P in E-7 slots (Sergeant First Class Positions) the last years of my active duty service. I was highly Trained Motivated and Good at what I did. I have all the paper work to back up what I say. And I have not even scratched the surface of my service to this Country. That I love so much. I am nobody special. But I have proved myself to be trust worthy and my opinion at one time counted. The Military was my life.
   
   Others and I are sick and have been for a very long time and need help. I am sorry that I am not made of steel. I am human after all. Never thought I would say that one.
   
   I lost my first wife to divorce and my first child to a problem with the pregnancy and my 1st wife took it much harder than me. Marriage over. My problems are the same as all the rest of us who are sick . So I will skip that part. Was re-married and had 1st child who was hospitalized twice for unknown reason. Buy that time I was pretty sick to. I have one other child who was born in 1998 who seems fine. I lost our home and all of our belongings in 1999 and became homeless with three kids and a great wife. (WOW) I still cant believe it. I was on around 13 prescriptions at the time. And my fight with the VA had started years before and they knew I was sick. I was also in a very bad training accident in 1989 and that alone was causing me major problems. So I was double trouble to the VA. It was and has been a very long road and I did win my fight with the VA and am rated 100% and I still need medical attention and I cant seem to get anyone at the VA to listen and understand my life is terrible and I have real medical problems and it not in my head. Well it is, the pain, headaches, and eyes and so on.
   
   We are sick, we served this Nation when the time came. Its time for this Nation to step up to the plate and help us. We need it. Too many have already died to include my best friend. What is it going to take. For the VA help us.
   
   Mike R.
   
   ordesertvet@aol.com
   

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