Hi Mokita: I was very interested in your similar problems with your husband having Gulf War Syndrome. Are you aware that there is a very good possibility that those men in the Gulf War were hit with Saran Gas? I heard a small "blurb" on the t.v. news about this and there was talk about that was what is causing these problems in these veterans. It is quite typical of the media NOT to focus too much on these "discoveries". Also, if your hubby is unable to work after 10 years, if he already has a partial disability from the VA, he can then apply for the remaining portion for unemployability. This takes his VA disability to the full 100%; however, it would be in a (for example) a 60% disability for the headaches and chronic pain, and 40% unemployability, totalling 100%. He'd get the money; however, should he die, you, as his spouse, (no matter how many years you sacrificed taking care of him)would get nothing. Unless, of course, the VA deemed he died of a service connected disability. Believe me, the VA will make sure they do not say he died of a service connection, as then you'd qualify for widow's pension. It would have to be totally proven that it was service connected, and that is hard to do. Keep pressing the VA; don't give up, keep putting claims in. Talk to the DAV and they can help you do the claim. However, the key is, your hubby has to go to the VA docs and he must keep complaining about this. The VA (like social security) WANTS you both to give up; it saves them money. However, if the VA sees how bad your hubby feels, then they can see themselves that this man has problems. The VA doesn't look kindly on civilian docs' opinions. (Who knows why that is??) My hubby wouldn't use the VA cause they treated him poorly, but he just finally kept going to them. They saw for themselves that he hadn't worked for 10 years and he was sick. I'm cut out of his pension, should he die; (he's on a 70/30 split), but this seems to be what the VA is "pulling" on the wives of these men. It wouldn't be so bad, but I cannot work with my spinal problems. I'm a worker, and I actually like to do jobs around here or in an office. Now, however, I feel so terrible in so much pain all the time, I cannot work. This one letter will probably use me up on the computer for today and possibly tomorrow, too. I have so many degenerating disks, simply being upright crushes all my spinal nerves and I hurt constantly. I have from C2 to C7-8/T1 degenerating, T5-6-7, L2 through L5/Sl. Do you get that crushing, burning pain from being upright? It feels like your whole spine burns, as if you will "spontaneously human combust"? Almost like a heating element is inside your spine?

Well, Mokita, I just had to tell you about the Saran gas and the VA. Please, please don't give up. Make them pay for your husband's problems; you both deserve it. Then at 100% you can shop at the base, too, and save about 1/2 on food, etc. Take care, Patmg