The government says that although many veterans are sick, there is no single disease or unique medical condition that affects them. The National Gulf War Resource Center in Silver Spring, Md., and other veterans groups maintain that servicemen and women were sickened by Iraqi chemical and biological agents, pesticides, vaccines and parasites.

• What are the symptoms?

Everything from fatigue to skin rash, headache, muscle and joint pain, memory loss, sleep disturbances, tremors, speech difficulty and chest pain. Some veterans have multiple symptoms. Some have none.

• What is the Gulf War Registry?

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers free physical examinations with basic lab tests to Gulf War veterans, healthy or sick. The findings are consolidated to try to find clues to the illnesses that affect some veterans. More than 75,000 vets have taken part in the program.

• Where are Gulf War veterans treated?

Usually at local VA medical centers. If symptoms are complex, sometimes veterans are referred to one of four special VA Gulf War referral centers.

• Is the government conducting studies of the illnesses?

About 200 federally funded projects have been started and some are completed. Researchers are considering such possible causes of illness as chemical and biological warfare agents, pesticides, microwaves, vaccinations, infections, chemicals, pesticides and depleted uranium, which was used in manufacturing projectiles and armor during the Gulf War.

• How can a Persian Gulf veteran or family members get more information?

To get on the mailing list for the VA's Gulf War Review, write VACO, Gulf War Review, Environmental Agents Service (131), 810 Vermont Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C., 20420. Other information is available through the 1-800-749-8387 help line.

For details or to file for disability, contact the Veterans Service Commission. Every Ohio county has one.