Hopes raised after US recognises Gulf War syndrome

Evidence … pills may have caused the syndrome.

by Mark Metherell

AUSTRALIAN veterans of the first Gulf War with a range of debilitating illnesses have been given new hope of recognition of "Gulf War syndrome".

The rethink of an earlier official rejection of the existence of the syndrome opens the possibility that several hundred soldiers serving 18 years ago could claim full entitlements to compensation and medical care once their condition is linked to operational service.

The Repatriation Medical Authority has called for a new investigation into Gulf War syndrome following the findings late last year of a United States Veterans Department study showing strong and consistent evidence of "Gulf War illness".

Up to 30 per cent of the 1873 Australians who served in the 1990-91 action in Iraq and the Persian Gulf could be afflicted with the syndrome, the Defence Force Welfare Association says.

The disease has been linked with the mandatory administration of pyridostigmine bromide pills, particularly to sailors, as protection against feared nerve gas attacks.

Symptoms include nausea, mental disorder, digestion problems, breathing difficulties and skin ailments.

The Australian repatriation authority had earlier found against what it now terms "Gulf war syndrome" on the basis of a Monash University study of 1400 Gulf veterans which found that veterans were more likely to report symptoms if they had been immunised or exposed to solvents, repellents and insecticides during the campaign. However, it concluded the symptoms were not sufficiently distinctive.

The Repatriation Medical Authority has given notice of its investigation, seeking submissions by May 29 from anybody eligible to make a claim for a pension or compensation under veterans legislation.
The authority will investigate the information now available on the Gulf War syndrome.

In 2003 the authority decided that "Gulf War illness" was not a disease within the meaning of the Veterans Entitlement Act.

"Australian veterans of Gulf War I will be delighted with this latest development," the president of the Defence Force Welfare Association, David Jamison, said.
Mr Jamison said his association has pressed the Veterans’ Affairs Department over the evidence that many Gulf War I veterans were suffering similar ill effects.
The problem for veterans was in showing that their illness was related to their operational service in order to be eligible for the full veterans benefits.
Mr Jamison criticised the lack of proactive response by Government officials in the light of emerging evidence of a specific syndrome.

"It is time for the department … to have a good look at how they support service people, particularly when they have conditions like this."

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, welcomed the decision and acknowledged the US findings had prompted the new Australian investigation.
"It is important that we investigate any information that may affect Australian veterans."

Mr Griffin said that despite the lack of an acknowledged "syndrome", Australian veterans suffering symptoms associated with Gulf War syndrome had access to compensation and health care through the repatriation system.

The Repatriation Medical Authority was independent and its investigation would be conducted separate to the Government, Mr Griffin said.