VA Report Says There Isn't A Gulf War Syndrome

A new government report finds that Gulf War Syndrome does not exist.

The Veterans Administration funded the study that *does* recognize the variety of health problems linked to gulf war service.

M-US-C's Dr. John Feussner says Gulf War Syndrome..or lack there of... has been controversial for years.

He has testified before Congress on the issue as the lead federal Chairman of the Persian Gulf research group. He doubts that sick gulf war veterans are suffering from anything else.

"This is alot more complicated that just a new syndrome so they know that they are healthy before they went to the war and that they are sick now and the major intercurrent problem is the war an what they are exposed to in that war," Feussner said.

Feussner says those affected by gulf war illness usually show signs of weakness, muscle pain, and unexplained skin rashes but the symptoms are not unique, which makes it tough to diagnose.

"Of the 700 thousand deployed it's probably an excess of 100 thousand of them that are sick I think that's the point people get confused and says there is no unique syndrome there is nothing wrong the patients ar sick but it doesn't appear to be from any unique disease," he continued.

Feussner says it's unlikely that health benefits will be dropped to those who are being treated because of this report.

A V.A. spokesman would not comment until the study could be reviewed.