57 results found

1. I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BODY WHY WON'T THE VA DOCTOR'S LISTEN????

   I am a Gulf War Vet. that became sick in Iraq. During the Oil Fires, I started coughing up Black crap. I was told not to worry about it. My coughing got worse when I got back to the States. I told the Army Doctors that it was do to the Oil Fires but they didn't believe me. I ended up getting a Medical Discharge, because of it. Now I have a mass between my lungs. GO FIGURE.. Also.. I have been having problems with my hips for the last 8 to 10 years.. The VA Dr.s have told me that, "IT'S ALL IN YOUR BACK" or "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR BACK IT'S ALL IN YOUR HIPS".. So which is it?? Well I found out. I was right.. It was my hips.. Now that I know what's wrong they won't tell me what caused it..or I should say that they the Dr.s say that the GULF WAR has nothing to do with my hips.. YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!! I have avascular necrosis. Which I have to have total hip replacement in both hips.. At the age of 44.. That's just like having my GALL BLADDER taken out in 1995, had nothing to to with the GULF WAR.. The VA Dr.s NEED to LISTEN TO THE VETERANS more about our conditions. AND NOT TURN A DEAF EAR,, TELLING THE VETERANS IT'S ALL IN OUR HEADS..

   I am a Gulf War Vet. that became sick in Iraq. During the Oil Fires, I started coughing up Black crap. I was told not to worry about it. My coughing got worse when I got back to the States. I told the Army Doctors that it was do to the Oil Fires but they didn't believe me. I ended up getting a Medical Discharge, because of it. Now I have a mass between my lungs. GO FIGURE.. Also.. I have been having problems with my hips for the last 8 to 10 years.. The VA Dr.s have told me… more

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2. Homeopathic Treatment must be Accessable for GWI

   For 20 long mostly miserable and nerve racking years, I was told that all of my aches and pains and suffering was because I had PTSD from Desert Storm. My journey was filled with nightmares and actual pain physical. Every muscle and tendon in my body was on fire from the inside. I have been depressed beyond my wildest dreams or nightmares I should say. I have been extremely on edge. Ready to pounce on anyone , not nice at all. I went from job to job, relationship to relationship with extreme anger. I have brain damage from Desert Storm I have brain damage from DEsert STorm. From all the chemicals I was forced to live a life that wAs not me, I was negatively affected so bad that many times I thought of killing myself, sad but true. I never trust anyone and am always filled with a combination of DEath and despair. I can see nothing but death on a daily basis. I expect to die of a terrible brain disease anytime. My worst nightmare is that I have passed this on to my daughter. She is only 3 but I wonder if I have crippled her brain because of my exposure to War, she gets really really upset and has a skin rash dermatologist can't help with. M y wife is loosing her hair and we don't know why??? I think that THe Taskforce for Desert Storm should be open to the idea of combined procedures of different specialist doctors. Combine the Mind, Body , Spirit connection. We need to heal the mind . We need to get nutrients to our cells overload with antioxidants, proteins, and food for our brain. I Am desperate to some day have a normal life please help bring the scientific community combined with homeopathic and faith based information , along with therapies thAt have possibly worked for VEts to relax them and help enrich their lives and beat Brain DAmage..

   For 20 long mostly miserable and nerve racking years, I was told that all of my aches and pains and suffering was because I had PTSD from Desert Storm. My journey was filled with nightmares and actual pain physical. Every muscle and tendon in my body was on fire from the inside. I have been depressed beyond my wildest dreams or nightmares I should say. I have been extremely on edge. Ready to pounce on anyone , not nice at all. I went from job to job, relationship to relationship with extreme anger. I have brain damage from Desert Storm… more

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3. Typical VA.

   Typical of VA. Create a task force 20 years later, put Gulf War Illness in the title, then claim to be doing something about it. Here's a suggestion for your task force: try finding any VA doctor that uses the term, "Gulf War Illness". Here's another suggestion, FOLLOW THE LAW! rather than wasting so much effort at trying to get around the law and screwing a veteran. The GWV's Undiagnosed illness law was passed a very long time ago (1997 or 1998), after YEARS of veterans being told by doctors that they could not figure out what was wrong, and right after the law was passed, all of a sudden veterans were being given diagnoses to get around the law, no matter if that diagnosis had any basis in medical fact, and no matter how many years that veteran was told the doctor could not figure it out. A veterans claim was then denied under that law because there was a frivolous diagnosis. Here is another suggestion for your "task force": Immediately develop a way to mandate all VA personnel who provide medical care are trained in whatever memo-of-the-week you are putting out. It does not give confidence in any part of the VA system when a veteran is more informed than the doctor on what VA policy is. Most don't take the time to read your memo or do your "training", or go through it just to check off a box and forget about it 5 minutes later. Here's a suggestion for veterans: If you run into a quack who obviously could care less about veterans, file a complaint with your state board of medical licensure. Each state requires VA doctors to be licensed in the state they practice in. If a few VA doctors found their license was threatened, things might improve. Go to a civilian hospital, and you see information everywhere on this complaint process. Go to the VA and there is...nothing. Or a patient rep or ombudsman who could care less. Here is another suggestion for veterans: Get familiar with the "research" the VA is doing in our name. Quite often it is repeated from research done years ago. There is independent research that is being done now, and the VA is working overtime to get that stopped because it is affecting their gravy train.

   Typical of VA. Create a task force 20 years later, put Gulf War Illness in the title, then claim to be doing something about it. Here's a suggestion for your task force: try finding any VA doctor that uses the term, "Gulf War Illness". Here's another suggestion, FOLLOW THE LAW! rather than wasting so much effort at trying to get around the law and screwing a veteran. The GWV's Undiagnosed illness law was passed a very long time ago (1997 or 1998), after YEARS of veterans being told by doctors that they could not figure out what was wrong, and… more

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4. Ongoing Scientific Review and Surveillance: Taking Advantage of Untapped Sources of Data Related to Veterans’ Health

   Ongoing scientific review is critical to understanding the environment that impacts health. There are Veterans’ health-related data available from sources other than studies conducted by VA. Having access to and understanding these data sources is important in comprehending the complex array of adverse health effects associated with deployment. VA has developed and maintained active participation in ongoing longitudinal reviews and surveillance projects including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Department of Defense Millennium Cohort Study, and the VA National Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans. These programs help VA identify Gulf War Veteran health trends through focused comparisons with broader populations. VA has also engaged in more focused surveillance and epidemiologic learning regarding Gulf War through the additional study of Neurological Disease, a 30,000 Veteran study of 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans, and ongoing Depleted Uranium and Toxic Embedded Fragment Surveillance Center and Registry work. Much of this work is longitudinal in nature (some continuing out into 2022), but results and findings from some are expected to be published in peer reviewed publications in the coming year.

   Please provide your comments, questions, and suggestion on how we may improve the Ongoing Scientific Review and Surveillance section of the report.

   Ongoing scientific review is critical to understanding the environment that impacts health. There are Veterans’ health-related data available from sources other than studies conducted by VA. Having access to and understanding these data sources is important in comprehending the complex array of adverse health effects associated with deployment. VA has developed and maintained active participation in ongoing longitudinal reviews and surveillance projects including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Department of Defense Millennium Cohort Study, and the VA National Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans. These… more

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5. Clinical Care: Leveraging Veteran-Centric Specialty Services in Primary Care

   One of the most substantial additions to the framework is the Clinical Care line of effort. Clinical health care for Gulf War Veterans is one of the most critical services VA can provide. This line of action is directly supported by Clinical Education and Training to ensure VA providers are well prepared to care for this population. Clinical care also benefits from research and development and Ongoing Scientific Review and Surveillance which inform and direct the best in evidence-based healthcare. The GWVI-TF has developed a prototype for a networked Gulf War Clinic which will be implemented at the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the coming year. The clinic will link subject matter experts and clinical specialists with primary care providers to optimize the care delivered to these patients. Teaching aids, referral networks, and other collaborative processes will be exercised in this effort.

   Please provide your comments, questions, and suggestion on how we may improve the Clinical Care section of the report.

   One of the most substantial additions to the framework is the Clinical Care line of effort. Clinical health care for Gulf War Veterans is one of the most critical services VA can provide. This line of action is directly supported by Clinical Education and Training to ensure VA providers are well prepared to care for this population. Clinical care also benefits from research and development and Ongoing Scientific Review and Surveillance which inform and direct the best in evidence-based healthcare. The GWVI-TF has developed a prototype for a networked Gulf War Clinic which will be implemented at the Salt Lake… more

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6. Research and Development: Encouraging Targeted Efforts

   Through the Office of Research & Development (ORD), VA funds research that will further the goal of improving the health and lives of Veterans who have GWVI, the complex of chronic symptoms that affect Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. To improve specific management of the GWVI portfolio of research, ORD actively pursued staffing additions to support these efforts. ORD continued to support and advertise requests for proposals for GWVI research and collaborate with VA, DOD, and other research activities through professional collaboration events and forums. Additionally, with support from the Gulf War Research Steering Committee and input from the Research Advisory Council for Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, a GWVI Research Strategic Plan was drafted. This plan, combined with the targeted staffing changes, is expected to provide focus and accountability in this research portfolio.

   Please provide your comments, questions, and suggestion on how we may improve the Research and Development section of the report.

   Through the Office of Research & Development (ORD), VA funds research that will further the goal of improving the health and lives of Veterans who have GWVI, the complex of chronic symptoms that affect Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. To improve specific management of the GWVI portfolio of research, ORD actively pursued staffing additions to support these efforts. ORD continued to support and advertise requests for proposals for GWVI research and collaborate with VA, DOD, and other research activities through professional collaboration events and forums. Additionally, with support from the Gulf War Research Steering Committee and input from the… more

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7. Wow. 20 Years later and we are FINALLY coming together on these issues? Sh*t We Gulf War Vets pioneered PTSD.

   At that time (1991) we were the 3% DEFENDING the other 97%!
   After I saw several Roads of Death and how they treated Kuwaiti civilians and whole families when they invaded I was glad to do my part by continuing to kick their asses (Iraq). Now my cost to the tax payers was to become a non homeless Veteran with a job and that's a problem?
   WTF, over?
   I have ALL of the above i.e. Memory and concentration issues, rashes/acne, IBS, coughing every morning even though I do not smoke, arthritis in my neck and hips, trouble sleeping each night, PTSD like issues at work and hyper sensitive (REDCON 1) all the time. Certain noises freak me out and get my adrenaline pumping.
   I drove an M1A1 tank made from and firing Depleted Uranium, drove through lakes of oil, breathed oil soot and the fine mist of it for 4 months as it rained down and clouded our camps every day. The air NBC tested positive for Nerve and Mustard but we were told not to worry about it. Drove over cluster bombs like it was my job (it was) walked over a buried 500lb unexploded bomb for 2 weeks to get some hot chow. Dragged burned out T-55's and T-62's to a range near Camp Monterey for target practice and demolition.
   (Some may have had remains in them judging by the thumb sized flies buzzing around, we never popped the hatches but you could clearly see where the sabot went in and came out)

   Now I get a 20% disability rating? I know I am still whole (unlike the 50,000 plus Vets coming from Iraq & Afghanistan now) but 20%? There should be an automatic 20% for just being there !
   (Unlike concientious objectors who copped out at the last minute-)
   You all (Fed. Govt.) need to get this right for us so you can take care the of new batch of Vets coming your way right now.

   We did our part, now do yours.

   At that time (1991) we were the 3% DEFENDING the other 97%!
   After I saw several Roads of Death and how they treated Kuwaiti civilians and whole families when they invaded I was glad to do my part by continuing to kick their asses (Iraq). Now my cost to the tax payers was to become a non homeless Veteran with a job and that's a problem?
   WTF, over?
   I have ALL of the above i.e. Memory and concentration issues, rashes/acne, IBS, coughing every morning even though I do not smoke, arthritis in my neck and hips, trouble sleeping each night,… more

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8. A Toxic Waste Dump

   When you take into consideration CIA's report entitled Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction dated Oct 2002 and the Army's report entitled Chemical and Biological Defense U.S. Forces Are Not Adequately Equipped to Detect All Threats dated January 1993, used in conjunction with a phenomenom only found in the Middle East and that is atmospheric ducting it all comes together.

   Fox vehicles alarming constantly, senior echelon announcing they were false alarms. Then recognize the DOD was quick to provide field changes to increase their capability. Pvt Fisher coming into contact with Mustard Gas and CDR Dunn processing the sample in Iraq getting a positive reading, but briefing Congress stating the findings were insufficient. I can't help but refer back to the UNSCOM inventories in Iraq of weapons storage facilities, and the coverups provided by Saddam. We knew Iraq used CW against Iran and the Kurds in 1988, I was in the Persian Gulf then. Coalition Forces bombed the ammunition facilities during DS, forcing chemicals into the atmosphere. Anywhere there was a hole in the atmosphere the chemicals would have dumped out onto unexpected troops. Read any Navy Lessons Learned message in the COMIDEASTFOR AOR and you will find this to be a fact, with regards to the ducting system in the atmosphere. I could take a line of sight circuit that normally operates at 30 miles line of sight, and talk 450 miles two or three times per month if the conditions were right.

   I've since had veterans sitting across my desk, as a CVSO, and have listen to numerous cases where they were under scud attack and afterwards experienced typical symptoms of CW release. As an Enlisted Surface Warfare qualified sailor, the prerequisite of which was Chemical, Biological, Radiation (CBR) Training, my initial reaction in DS is they were experiencing attacks from nerve agents.

   Dr. Robert Haley brought that revelation to light. But you hear very little these days. Most veterans in my county want nothing to do with the VA after receiving their denial letters in the claim process. Not sure if 20 years later, this is really going to convince them to even consider participating. They need more than promises and health care they end up paying for.

   We have had a little success with GWS claims, and for that we're grateful, but for those that were denied, they still have the chronic conditions today, just a medical doctor put a diagnosis to them and they're paying to be treated, outside the VAMC - they were initially told by the VAMC it was a reaction because of nerves. That is a stigma that will follow the VAMC and VA from here until their demise.

   When you take into consideration CIA's report entitled Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction dated Oct 2002 and the Army's report entitled Chemical and Biological Defense U.S. Forces Are Not Adequately Equipped to Detect All Threats dated January 1993, used in conjunction with a phenomenom only found in the Middle East and that is atmospheric ducting it all comes together.

   Fox vehicles alarming constantly, senior echelon announcing they were false alarms. Then recognize the DOD was quick to provide field changes to increase their capability. Pvt Fisher coming into contact with Mustard Gas and CDR Dunn processing the sample in Iraq… more

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9. Body rash, anxiety, nervousness on close proximity of razzor sound, sleep insomnia and total distrust, always alert to my sorrounding.

   I received 6 Anthrax shots in a period of 12 months. Deployed to the Middle East. 4 times. I took care of all of the Medical treatment for biological agents, such as nerve, mustard, ect. I am currently suffering of severe rash on an ongoing basis. Rashes shows like whipslash all over my body. Lumbs up about 2cm and 3 cm in width and in lenthg could ba as long as one foot. It burns, itches, turns red and suddenly I begin sweating profusely. This is days in and days out. I also get chronic pain all in my body, from swelling on my legs, to bloading, sudden panic attacks accompanied with irritability, soreness throughout my body, numbness in my lateral part of my left leg. hard pounding, with irregual heart beat when I think about the loss of my friends and the hundreds of body parts I got to pick up and identify them based on their location during mass casualties. How can I live a peaceful life with all of this conditions? Not to include other sorreal medical conditons.

   I received 6 Anthrax shots in a period of 12 months. Deployed to the Middle East. 4 times. I took care of all of the Medical treatment for biological agents, such as nerve, mustard, ect. I am currently suffering of severe rash on an ongoing basis. Rashes shows like whipslash all over my body. Lumbs up about 2cm and 3 cm in width and in lenthg could ba as long as one foot. It burns, itches, turns red and suddenly I begin sweating profusely. This is days in and days out. I also get chronic pain all in my body,… more

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10. Seizure disorder should be presumptive

    I believe that seizure disorder or epilepsy should be made presumptive for gulf war illness. ALOT of gulf war vets have this and the VA blows it off as epilepsy and throws it out. If you check gulf war illness blogs, there are alot of vets complaining of seizures and what is the first symptom of sarin gas poisoning "SEIZURES".

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11. The VA Talks the Talk, but doesn't Walk the Walk and their TALK IS CHEAP!!!!!!

    As far as this VA report and many others, Talk is cheap! The VA reports look great, but the sad reality is I and many of us have been suffering while the VA and Regional offices "status" has been to lie, lie, deny, deny, cutt up records, deny, deny, stall, stall, stall, stall and then reject claims. In the 90's we were treated like 2nd class citizens they canceled appointments and wouldn't help me (at least in my case and my personal feelings). I've brought GWVI up many times to the VA in the past and it's like saying the "F" word in Church. It's very taboo. I don't even know if there's a actual claim for "GWVI"? If there is, they have not done anything for me. Why do we have to go through so much (pain and suffering) then jump through so many hoops then still get denied. Again, the VA talks the talk but does not walk the walk "Talk is cheap". Over the years I've even been told that "Yes we know you have these illness', but we're not allowed to diagnose you or even put the info in the computer" I've been told by every doctor that I've ever been to (except my current VA doctor, which is great but all others VA and personal) that I'm to young to be having all of these problems and they can't help me with all of my issues. I didn't know/think 20 years later we're still talking about them and getting worse over all. All of the doctors say lets work on 1 or 2, maybe 3 issues now. Then we'll work on some of your other problems later. Well it's been 20 +years LATER... If the VA wont put everything or a very limited amount of my (OUR) problems in the computer and wont diagnose, how are we to get benefits? That's facts. Again the VA "Talks the Talk, but Doesn't Walk the Walk" and "Talk is Cheap"! For personal doctor's they don't want to deal with all my issues because they only get paid a certain amount. Some have even said "Set up an appoint for each problem you have and we'll work on them seperatly" What? In 20 years I've had many many jobs and have had and not had insurance. I can't afford that. So I've suffered for 20 + years and still do!!!! A VA rep several years ago told me to go to a personal doctor and demand they hear my issues. So I did and I demanded help and to get to the bottom of what all is wrong. I'm tired of being sick, tired of hurting, tired of no help or very little and no one gives a crap about me so that doctor sent me to a specialist. The specialist diagnosed me with several things and then they said you have more problems go to this other specialist, then another specialist and they diagnosed me with even more issues (probablems almost all started in Iraq/Kuwait/S.A. during or at the last 4 or 5 days while in country I got really bad). I still owe thousands of $$ to these specialist and other doctors. I pay for those bills not the VA. However, the VA does pay for my I think 14-16 meds/oxygen at night and other items and xrays etc. But again, this report from the VA is trash. AGAIN Stop Talking the Talk and start Walking the Walk. Other wise stop wasting our time and health!!!

    As far as this VA report and many others, Talk is cheap! The VA reports look great, but the sad reality is I and many of us have been suffering while the VA and Regional offices "status" has been to lie, lie, deny, deny, cutt up records, deny, deny, stall, stall, stall, stall and then reject claims. In the 90's we were treated like 2nd class citizens they canceled appointments and wouldn't help me (at least in my case and my personal feelings). I've brought GWVI up many times to the VA in the past and it's like saying the… more

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12. VA

    THE VA DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE GULF WAR VETERAN!
    I am a Gulf War Veteran just like the rest of you. We cannot get care for our illness because no one in the VA will document it. I've been struggling with symptoms for 20 years now and I haven't found one doctor in the VA who will listen. No one even tells you that your illness may be related to GWI!! I have chronic asthma (hospitalized 6 times in 7 years), I also have Avascular Necrosis which is deteriation of the bones in my body from receiving too many steroids for the asthma caused by the Gulf War. I also had many of the other symptoms that we all suffer, ie., diarrhea, tennitis, muscle and bone pain, headaches, weekness, and blurred vision, just to mention a few. I've been told everything, EXCEPT that it may be related to the GWI. Come on VA - these vets don't need the cold shoulder, we need your support and acknowledgement that this is a serious illness that has affected us for so very long!

    THE VA DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE GULF WAR VETERAN!
    I am a Gulf War Veteran just like the rest of you. We cannot get care for our illness because no one in the VA will document it. I've been struggling with symptoms for 20 years now and I haven't found one doctor in the VA who will listen. No one even tells you that your illness may be related to GWI!! I have chronic asthma (hospitalized 6 times in 7 years), I also have Avascular Necrosis which is deteriation of the bones in my body from receiving too many steroids… more

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13. Group of docters sit down with patient instead of pt seeking individual drs throught a yr

    Need a group of drs one overseening, three examing. Then set treatment plan. This way all drs are in sync . Pt does not have go throught 4 visitis a month , being pushed to next dr. The blame game stops and treatment plan starts. Ortho sends to rehumatology,they send to neuro, they send to primary, primary sends topain clinic.

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14. toxicity of Patriot and MLRS propellants

    Where is the research into propellants used for patriot and MLRS weapons systems, and the affects on surrounding military personnel, especially those troops doing physical security around these batteries or conducting missions around missile volleys air and ground war.

    19 votes

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15. Stop screwing us!

    I've been sick and hurting for 20+ years now. I've filed a few times and would just get mad and stop fighting (as the VA wants us to do). This time, I will not stop until I receive what I've earned. Why can't the VA have certain people assigned to certain Veterans? You say you want to streamline the process? That way the VA person is responcible for the Veterans folder of records, disability etc. Now you call in 50 times and get 50 different people giving you 50 different stories. I've been jacked around so much that I should change my name to "Jack". When with the regional offices live by what you preach?

    I've been sick and hurting for 20+ years now. I've filed a few times and would just get mad and stop fighting (as the VA wants us to do). This time, I will not stop until I receive what I've earned. Why can't the VA have certain people assigned to certain Veterans? You say you want to streamline the process? That way the VA person is responcible for the Veterans folder of records, disability etc. Now you call in 50 times and get 50 different people giving you 50 different stories. I've been jacked around so much that I should… more

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16. Here is my problem with it.After 20+ years of struggling with ptsd I was finally diagnosed an recieved a rating but only at 30%. now what a

    After 20+ years I was diagnosed with ptsd but only recieved a 30% rating. what about the past 20 years of hell loosing jobs and destroyed relationships ect. ect. I also have been trying to explain to my doctor that not all of my problem with the cronic fatigue i experience is not due to my weight .I was experiencing it long before i got big. Which th weight is a product of the depression I fight every day. They make you feel like you are trying to get a free ride or something. I have never taken govt. assist. and have always made my own way. I put my ass on the line for my country and would do it again in a second.Show some respect. I only want the help and compensation I deserve no more no less.

    After 20+ years I was diagnosed with ptsd but only recieved a 30% rating. what about the past 20 years of hell loosing jobs and destroyed relationships ect. ect. I also have been trying to explain to my doctor that not all of my problem with the cronic fatigue i experience is not due to my weight .I was experiencing it long before i got big. Which th weight is a product of the depression I fight every day. They make you feel like you are trying to get a free ride or something. I have never taken govt. assist.… more

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17. How about the(PB) pre-nerve agent pills?

    Did these make anyone sick?

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18. This report has a list of injuries and illness for GWV but they don't tell you how to put in a claim to for these issues.

    I have tried numerous times to file a claim and been denied. Now maybe if they tell vets how to put in for GWI claim that might be better. All of the pain that I am having it is hard to keep going. But what can one do?

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19. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and multiple sclerosis

    This report stated that the "ORD is committed to funding research that improves VA’s understanding and ability to treat illnesses, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may occur at higher prevalence in Gulf War Veterans". I would like to focus, in particular, on the diagnosis of ALS at much higher rates than other veteran population groups in general. As a registered nurse at a private hospital I personally witnessed the terminal wean of a Gulf veteran with ALS. As a VA employee, I witnessed the effects of this diagnosis, and subsequent death, on a fellow VA employee who was a Gulf War veteran.

    Prior studies by the VA indicated that we (Gulf War (GW) Veterans) had as much as a 2 to 4 times greater risk of developing this disease than the general population. Yet, the VA has opened the gates for service-connection for ALS to essentially all veterans because of a one-times greater risk for "all" veterans. In so doing the VA has minimalized the stark chasm between the rate of this disease in GW vets versus other veteran population groups. The VA should conduct the necessary research into the cause or causes of this disease in GW vets (MS as well), in particular. This may provide an explanation for other unexplained illnesses from which we suffer. Certainly the other veteran groups should also be service-connected for this disease, but please don't ignore the obvious distinction between the rate of incurrance for other veteran populations and the GW veterans.

    This report stated that the "ORD is committed to funding research that improves VA’s understanding and ability to treat illnesses, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may occur at higher prevalence in Gulf War Veterans". I would like to focus, in particular, on the diagnosis of ALS at much higher rates than other veteran population groups in general. As a registered nurse at a private hospital I personally witnessed the terminal wean of a Gulf veteran with ALS. As a VA employee, I witnessed the effects of this diagnosis, and subsequent death, on a fellow… more

    16 votes

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20. The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to update its software that is used for when veterans check-in for their appointments.

    The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to update its software that is used for when veterans check-in for their appointments. This is so that when a veteran that has more than one illness or symptom can have it entered into his computer file for the doctor to see it. At present the nurse will only take one. This does not work for a veteran with undiagnosed illness or a TBI as there are many different symptoms that the veteran may need to report he is suffering from at the same time. As many of these symptoms such as headaches, pains in shoulders, arms, legs, back, and diarrhea do materialize at the same time and need to be looked at and reported. The nurse will ask which one is bothering you the most and will enter that one into the computer and leave the rest out. This has happened to me many times over the past 19 years.
    When the veteran files a claim, the rating specialist does not see that he had complained about the rest of the illnesses only the one in the system the nurse entered.
    
    When I go to the doctor I have a multitude of problems and the nurse will only enter one item in the computer. The doctor will only talk about that one issue due to the short time he is given to see me. How can we get better care for the other 8 issues when I cannot get them into the computer?
    Once the VA is able to track all the symptoms that the Gulf War veterans is having at the point of checking for each appointment will we start to understand the magnitude of the problem. This update is not that hard to do. As I have done programing in the past myself.
    Once a researcher starts looks at all of the Gulf War veterans and illnesses that they have been diagnosed with (and any old depression and PTSD should be relooked at the WRIISC) or undiagnosed to see what type of pattern there is. This should be ongoing at interval of no more than 3 years over the next 28 years. Then will we understand what the environmental hazards have done to us. Tracking of the veterans and reporting of gulf war veterans has to be done in accordance to the times of deployment due to the fact that the war covers a 20+ year time frame. The environment after Khamisiyah and the oil well fires being extinguished is different than that from operation Iraqi freedom. When the air war started it blow up chemical plant and supplies where the winds sent it towards us. Desert storm was the only ones that took PB pill. OIF had some of their own exposures.
    James A. Bunker
    Executive Director
    National Gulf War Resource Center
    Toll free 866-531-7183
    WWW.NGWRC.ORG
    Face Book
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=7500982521

    The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to update its software that is used for when veterans check-in for their appointments. This is so that when a veteran that has more than one illness or symptom can have it entered into his computer file for the doctor to see it. At present the nurse will only take one. This does not work for a veteran with undiagnosed illness or a TBI as there are many different symptoms that the veteran may need to report he is suffering from at the same time. As many of these symptoms such as headaches, pains… more

    15 votes

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