Desert Storm Veterans 28 Years Later
As a Desert Storm combat veteran, I am reminded by the younger veterans how old I am getting, with love of course. I am starting to feel my age. Last year I decided it was time to deal with some of my medical issues I have overlooked for 25 + years. After a lot of thought I decided to file a claim for Gulf War syndrome since I have some of the issues associated with the war. After I filed my claim the VA sent me to a contract doctor who diagnosed me with a Desert Storm presumptive illness. My diagnosis for a presumptive condition was denied and classified as not service connected.
I decided to have the VA reconsider their determination asking them how a presumptive can be considered not service connected. I had not used the VA in the past because I am retired and have Tri-Care so utilizing the VA didn’t make since to me. I didn’t want to take resources away from other veterans who needed them worse. I dealt with my issues through my civilian primary care provider. Believing the VA might need more information on my condition I gathered my civilian medical records and tried to transfer them to the VA, I thought it would be easy, boy was I wrong! I had to be placed in their system taking resources away from veterans that needed them worse. This was not what I wanted, but I had no choice.
Once in the VA system I was issued a primary care provider and a new VA card. My new VA primary care provider saw me for about an hour and I was done. I attempted to give her my civilian medical records and she sent me to the records department. There they told me I needed a request from my VA primary care provider before they could place my civilian records with my military ones. I had to put in a request for a request that my VA primary care physician wanted my civilian medical records placed in my records. About a week later I was told the request was approved and I could give my civilian records to the VA. There is no way to know for sure if the civilian records are even considered in the VA’s disability determination. What I did not realize is the medical arm of the VA has nothing to do with the compensation and pension arm, and they don’t talk to each other. Through all this I kept asking how a presumptive is not service connected, no one could tell me.
I often ask other veterans if they understand what a “presumptive” is to the VA and many don't. A presumptive to the VA is they assume that certain diseases can be related to a Veteran's qualifying military service, therefore making them presumptive. According to Military Times if a veteran is diagnosed with a presumptive condition, Veterans Affairs is required to assume that it is military-connected, and that the veteran is then entitled to medical or disability benefits associated with the diagnosis. Since I was denied I figured gulf war syndrome is the new Agent Orange. Research reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses (RAC) have reported on research studies that have consistently shown high rates of Gulf War Illness symptoms among veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.
After 28 years we are seeing similarities between what the VA did with Agent Orange and how the VA is dealing with Gulf War Syndrome. Presently 80% of all gulf war claims for gulf war syndrome are being denied, I am one of them. The present Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) veterans' claims are being denied by less than 2%. According to this report 98% of GWOT claims are being approved. It appears that after 28 years of dealing with issues, Desert Storm veterans are getting the same treatment the Vietnam Veterans received with Agent Orange. It makes you wonder when they will start denying claims for the new veterans as they get older. Some things take time to manifest, we are taught to “suck it up and deal with it”. I did not seek help until it was too painful for me to function properly. Not complaining does not pay off. I guess Veterans need to start complaining and stop sucking it up and dealing with it like we did in the military. It appears that is what the VA is counting on, being a good troop and pressing on.
Below is the list of Presumptive medical problems for Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome
Presumptive for Agent Orange
· Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
Desert Storm Presumptive
· Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
· Fibromyalgia
· Insomnia
· morning stiffness
· headache
· memory problems
· Functional gastrointestinal disorders
· Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
· functional dyspepsia
· functional abdominal pain syndrome
· Undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms that may include but are not limited to: abnormal weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances.
For questions or comments, I can be reached at bo@afterdutyvets.com or visit our website at afterdutyvets.com.