There are nine infectious diseases that the VA presumes are related to military service for Gulf War veterans. Any veteran who served in Southwest Asia since the early 1990s is eligible to receive benefits without proving a direct service connection for a diagnosis of Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus.
In this article about Gulf War infectious diseases
- Gulf War veterans and infectious diseases
- What are presumptive service connections?
- Who are considered Gulf War veterans?
- 9 diseases with presumptive service connections for Gulf War veterans
- How can Persian Gulf War veterans get benefits for presumptive conditions?
- Gulf War veterans with additional disabilities
- How Woods and Woods can help
Gulf War veterans and infectious diseases
Nearly 700,000 service members served in Southwest Asia in the early 1990s, and since then, over one-third of those members have experienced adverse health effects. In all, these Gulf War veterans tend to report poorer health than any other veterans who did not spend time in the Persian Gulf area.
Unfortunately, these symptoms related to military service have not been confined to this specific place and time. The first Gulf War took place from Aug. 2, 1990, to Feb. 28, 1991. However, related infectious diseases are connected with military service in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom.
VA disability law considers anyone who served in the region after Aug. 2, 1990, a Gulf War veteran. There is not an established end date for the Gulf War Era. It will eventually be “through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law.”
Because of the link between symptoms and service in the region during this particular time, the VA determined that several related diagnoses may be considered presumptively service-connected.
What are presumptive service connections?
Military service members face unique environments and situations during their service that can lead to health issues later in life. Therefore, the VA provides disability benefits for veterans who have shown that their health issues are related to their service, referred to as service connections.
The VA sometimes determines that a specific illness is directly related to a particular aspect of military service. By just being at that place, time, or situation, the condition is automatically determined to be service-connected, so long as no restrictions prevent service connection. These are referred to as presumptive service connections. Presumed health issues related to a specific area of service are known as presumptive conditions.
Who are considered Gulf War veterans?
Veterans are considered Gulf War veterans if they served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations after Aug. 2, 1990, (when the Gulf War began) through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law. Gulf War veterans served on active military, naval, or air service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. This includes those who served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
What locations does the southwest Asia theater of operations include?
The Southwest Asia Theater of Operations includes the following places:
- Afghanistan (airspace not included)
- Bahrain
- Egypt (airspace not included)
- Iraq
- Israel (airspace not included)
- Jordan (airspace not included)
- Kuwait
- Neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria (airspace not included)
- Turkey (airspace not included)
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The waters of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Note: The airspace above all of the countries and locations listed in this section is recognized unless stated otherwise.
9 diseases with presumptive service connections for Gulf War veterans
The National Academy of Sciences has listed nine diseases diagnosed in U.S. troops who served in Southwest Asia that can cause long-term adverse health effects. Gulf War Veterans with these diagnoses are considered eligible for VA disability benefits on a presumptive service connection.
#1 Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease. It can be caused by eating raw dairy products or by contact with infected animals. Symptoms include joint and muscle pain, profuse sweating, and fever. This illness may persist for years. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#2 Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni is also a bacterial disease that can be caused by eating raw food or from contact with infected animals. It can also be caused by unsafe drinking water. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#3 Coxiella Burnetii (Q Fever)
Coxiella burnetii is the bacteria that causes Q Fever. People can become infected by inhaling dust that infected animal waste or milk has been in contact with. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, headaches, and nausea. In chronic cases, another symptom is the inflammation of the heart. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#4 Malaria
Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that spread to humans through infected mosquitos. Symptoms of malaria include chills, fever, headache, and sweating. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#5 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). TB affects the lungs but can also affect the brain, kidney, and spine. Symptoms include chest pain, cough, fever, and weight loss. There are no limiting time or severity requirements to be considered for VA benefits.
#6 Nontyphoid Salmonella
Nontyphoid Salmonella is a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal infections. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#7 Shigella
Shigella is a bacterial disease. It’s caused by exposure to the bacteria found in infected stool (poop). Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
#8 Visceral Leishmaniasis
Visceral Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects internal organs. Symptoms include fever, weight loss, and enlargements of the spleen and liver. There are no limiting time or severity requirements to be considered for VA benefits.
#9 West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain, nausea. This condition must be at least 10% disabling within one year of military separation to be eligible for VA benefits.
How can Persian Gulf War veterans get benefits for presumptive conditions?
Unlike other illnesses, these presumptive conditions are eligible for VA disability benefits to Persian Gulf War veterans without requiring a direct service connection. Instead, the VA presumes these diseases are linked to veterans’ unique experiences and conditions from their service in Southwest Asia. If you are diagnosed with one of these infectious diseases, contact a VA benefits attorney for help filing for compensation.
Veterans who qualify for benefits for infectious diseases must prove:
- The disability manifested either during service in the Southwest Asia theatre of operations, or to a degree of 10% or more not later than December 31, 2016
- The disability cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis by history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.
Gulf War veterans and their dependents may also be eligible for other benefits. Visit this link from the VA for more information.
Gulf War veterans with additional disabilities
Gulf War Veterans might be eligible for additional benefits if their presumptive disease contributed to another health issue. Call Woods and Woods to speak with a VA disability attorney to discuss applying for additional benefits.
If a Gulf War veteran is diagnosed with a condition not on the list above and had not been diagnosed with a presumptive disease earlier, they will need to prove a service connection to receive benefits.
In this video, one of our VA disability lawyers talks about VA benefits for Gulf War Syndrome.
How Woods and Woods can help
A team of experienced attorneys and medical professionals can help you get the benefits you are entitled to. Contact Woods and Woods for help filling out your initial claim for benefits related to your service. We never charge for help completing your initial application and will make sure you have the correct information included and that it gets to the right office. In addition, having a VA disability benefits attorney may help you avoid the appeals process altogether.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(866) 232-5777
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Any veteran who has served in Southwest Asia since the early 1990s is eligible to receive benefits without needing to prove a direct service connection for a diagnosis of Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis, West Nile virus.
The VA awards disability benefits to veterans who have shown that their health issues are directly related to their service, referred to as service connection. When VA disability law determines that a specific illness is related to a particular place, time, or situation, the condition is automatically determined to be service-connected. These conditions are referred to as presumptive service connections.