For additional clarification of information...
IBS is considered a DoVA presumptive condition in accordance with 38 CFR § 3.307 Presumptive service connection for chronic, tropical, or
prisoner-of-war related disease, disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents, or disease associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune; wartime and service on or after January 1, 1947. If a presumed condition is diagnosed in a Veteran in a certain group, they can be awarded DoVA disability compensation.
Under the DoVA’s regulation for qualifying disabilities for Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans, IBS is a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) that is defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms. As such, this means that the DoVA may also grant military service connection for a Persian Gulf War veteran with IBS.
For the purposes of military service connection for an undiagnosed illness or a MUCMI, the DoVA considers eligible any veteran who served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations from August 2, 1990 to the present. This includes service in the following locations:
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- The neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Iraq
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- The United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Gulfs of Aden and Oman
- Water of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea
- Airspace above these locations
Note that military veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010) and Operation New Dawn (2010-2011) are eligible as well. Moreover, the PGW in Southwest Asia began in August 1990 and continues to present day for DoVA “period of war” purposes. The PGW period of war currently extends to December 31, 2021.
In retrospect after the 1991 Gulf War, Congress enacted statutory directives at § 38 USC 1117, which addressed a range of disabilities in veterans who served in Southwest Asia. The DoVA then promulgated its regulations at 38 CFR § 3.317. The law provides for presumptive service connection for a “qualifying chronic disability.” A qualifying chronic disability means a chronic disability resulting from “an undiagnosed illness” or a MUCMI defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms.
As such, MUCMIs are defined by a cluster of signs and symptoms without conclusive pathophysiology or etiology. Although MUCMIs may be diagnosed, if the diagnosis is partially understood in terms of etiology and pathophysiology, then it will not be considered medically unexplained. Examples of MUCMIs include:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders
To that extent, the below category covers undiagnosed illnesses or symptoms not associated with a diagnosed condition, but that the DoVA has identified as prevalent in Gulf War veterans. These symptoms include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained fatigue
- Cardiovascular ailments
- Muscle or joint pain
- Headaches
- Menstrual disorders
- Psychological or neurological problems
- Respiratory disturbances
- Difficulty sleeping
- Skin conditions
Nonetheless, among the environmental hazards during PGW were: smoke from over 750 Kuwaiti oil well fires; pesticides/insecticide use, including personal flea collars; indigenous infectious diseases, such as leishmaniasis; solvents and fuels; ingestion of pyridostigmine bromide tablets on a daily basis as a nerve gas antidote; the combined effect of multiple vaccines; and inhalation of ultra-fine-grain sand particles. Veterans began reporting chronic debilitating medical symptoms that typically included some combination of chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, widespread bodily pain, unexplained fatigue, chronic diarrhea, respiratory problems, and other abnormalities. Take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
