GULF WAR VETERANS: Incidence of Tumors Cannot Be Reliably Determined FromAvailable Data

摘要

Numerous claims of illnesses from Gulf War veterans and inconsistent reports onveterans' exposure to risk factors have prompted a number of government studies on the nature, extent, and treatment of Gulf War illnesses. In June of last year, we reported to you and other members of Congress that government research efforts may not be able to provide conclusive answers about the causes of veterans' illnesses and that several risk factors such as chemical and biological agents had been ruled out prematurely as possible explanations for the reported illnesses. We also reported that many veterans were unhappy with the quality of health care treatments they had received from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and that enhanced monitoring is needed to determine if veterans are getting any better or worse over time.