Summary
Veterans have made progress in their efforts to understand Gulf War Syndrome, as the Department of Defense (DOD) has agreed to update guidance on veterans' exposure to chemical weapons. The DOD will also work on finding and releasing classified documents related to the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
Key Facts
- Gulf War Syndrome affects up to one in three veterans from the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
- The Department of Defense plans to change how it informs veterans about their likely exposure to chemical weapons during the war.
- The DOD agreed to make classified documents about the war more accessible.
- In 2026, the DOD met with Vietnam Veterans of America to discuss these issues.
- A faulty cell function has been studied by scientists as a potential link to Gulf War Syndrome.
- Demolition of an ammunition site in Khamisiyah in 1991 may have exposed 100,000 veterans to nerve agents.
- The DOD committed to improving access to health and environmental exposure information online.
- Research funding for Gulf War Illness was incorporated into the Toxic Exposure Research Program in 2022.
