A:
Our best information on this question comes from the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program (CCEP) which provides thorough medical evaluations of 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans in DoD health care facilities. Through June 1998, approximately 32,392 veterans have completed CCEP evaluations. Seventy five percent of all 32,392 CCEP participants have as their primary (main) diagnosis one of the following 42 most common diagnoses (ICD-9 Codes are shown in parentheses):
Musculoskeletal Disorders, Number of Participants 5224 / Percent of All Participants 16.2%
- Pain in Joint (719.4) 1776
- Osteoarthrosis (715) 1148
- Back Pain and Other Back Disorders (724) 901
- Disorders of Tendons, Muscle Attachments (726) 497
- Other Disorders of Soft Tissue (729) 464
- Vertebral Disc Disorders (722) 294
- Knee Derangements (717) 144
Symptoms which the CCEP Evaluation was unable to establish an explanatory diagnosis,
Number of Participants 4397 / Percent of All Participants 13.6 %
- Malaise and/or fatigue (780.7) 1381
- Sleep Disturbances (780.5) 1067
- General Symptoms and Hyperhidrosis (780.8-780.9) 625
- Symptoms of Respiratory System and Chest (786) 530
- Symptoms Involving the Skin (782) 334
- Alterations of Consciousness, Awareness (780-780.4) 197
- Abdominal Pain in Various Locations (789.0) 136
- Symptoms of Digestive System (787) 127
Psychological Disorders, Number of Participants 3989 / Percent of All Participants 12.3 %
- Depressive Disorder (311) 942
- Neuroses (300) 897
- Prolonged PTSD (309.81) 850
- Affective Disorders (296) 563
- Adjustment Reactions (309) 387
- Sleep Disorders (307.4) 179
- Organic Brain Syndromes (293-4) 171
Healthy, Number of Participants 2904 / Percent of All Participants 9.0 %
- Feared Complaint, No Diagnosis (V65.5) 2586
- Routine General Medical Examination (V70) 318
Headaches, Number of Participants 2757 / Percent of All Participants 8.5 %
- Tension headache (307.81) 1016
- Migraine (346) 950
- Headache (784.0) 791
Respiratory Conditions, Number of Participants 1681 / Percent of All Participants 5.2 %
- Asthma (493) 719
- Allergic Rhinitis (477) 501
- Chronic Upper Respiratory Inflammation (472-476) 461
Skin Disorders, Number of Participants 1387 / Percent of All Participants 4.3%
- Alopecia, hirsutism, and other diseases of hair and hair follicles (704) 407
- Fungus Infections (110-111) 406
- Contact dermatitis and other Eczema (692) 399
- Urticaria, various types (708) 175
Gastrointestinal Disorders, Number of Participants 1262 / Percent of All Participants 3.9%
- Irritable Colon (564.1) 496
- Esophageal Reflux (530.81) 429
- Enteritis and Colitis (558) 214
- Gastritis and Duodenitis (535) 123
Hypertension, Essential(401), Number of Participants 393 / Percent of All Participants 1.2%
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, Number of Participants 292 / Percent of All Participants 0.9 %
- Lipoid Metabolism Disord. (272) 168
- Hypothyroidism (243-244) 124
Hearing Loss (388.02-388.2, 389), Number of Participants 130 / Percent of All Participants 0.4 %