GULF WAR ILLNESSES LINKED TO SOUTHWEST ASIA:
If you have an illness or other health condition that’s connected to your service as a Gulf War Veteran from 1990 to now, you may be eligible. This includes service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and certain other areas.
If you served in any of these locations on or after August 2, 1990, we presume your infectious disease is associated with your service:
- Afghanistan (airspace not included and only service after September 19, 2001)
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The waters of the Arabian Sea
- Gulf of Aden
-Gulf of Oman
- Persian Gulf
- Red Sea
Note: The airspace above all of the countries and locations listed in this section is recognized, unless specified that it’s not included.
These undiagnosed illnesses are considered presumptive if you served in a recognized location, a health care provider diagnosed you while you were on active duty or at any time after separation, and you’ve been ill for at least 6 months:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders
- Medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness
- Other undiagnosed illnesses, such as cardiovascular signs and symptoms, muscle and joint pain, and headaches
Conditions diagnosed within 1 year of separation
These infectious diseases are considered presumptive if you served in a recognized location and a health care provider diagnosed you within 1 year of separation:
- Brucellosis
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
- Malaria (or sooner in some cases)
- Nontyphoid salmonella
- Shigella
- West Nile virus
These infectious diseases presumptive if a health care provider diagnosed you any time after separation:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Visceral leishmaniasis