The Veterans Administration will give Persian Gulf War veterans an additional five years to qualify for benefits for undiagnosed illnesses, sometimes known as Gulf War Syndrome. What this means is that veterans with undiagnosed illnesses may still be able to qualify for disabiity benefits, even though the original deadline of December 31, 2011, has passed.

The change came about because of a recent adjustment in VA rules that extends the qualifying date to December 31, 2016. This change covers veterans who served in the first Gulf War, starting on August 2, 1990. It also applies to the Iraq War and operations that include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

These symptoms include medically unexplained weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, and sleep disturbances. The VA does not use the term Gulf War Syndrome.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said, "Not all the wounds of war are fully understood. When there is uncertainty about the connection between a medical problem and military service, veterans are entitled to the benefit of the doubt."

Source: Kansas City Infozine, "VA Extends Qualifying Time of Persian Gulf War Veterans Undiagnosed Illnesses", Jan. 3, 2012.