Veteran Benefits: Delivering Compensation and Pension and Fiduciary Services
As research and environmental study evolves or new legislative and regulatory provisions are written regarding illnesses for Gulf War Veterans, the VA Compensation Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) performs necessary rule-making and develops field training to support the changes. To further assist Gulf War Veterans, Compensation Service developed two training letters designed to inform and instruct regional office personnel on development and adjudication of disability claims based on Southwest Asia service. VA also completed a regulation to add functional gastrointestinal disorders to the list of disabilities that are presumed to have resulted from service in the Gulf War. The final rule was published and became effective on August 15, 2011. VBA continues to work with the VA/DoD Deployment Health Working Group to identify environmental exposures whether related to the Gulf War or elsewhere. Finally, VBA worked with the VHA on an effort to develop and execute a separation health assessment with DoD, an effort that is intended to reduce the future burden of proving service connection that Veterans often must bear when seeking recognition for exposure-related illnesses and injuries years after service.
Please provide your comments, questions, and suggestion on how we may improve the Veterans Benefits section of the report.
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michael commented
Delay deny until we die
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Ezjay commented
What do you have to do to get compensation if VA Doctors verify you have Gulf War Illness? Most of what I'm reading here is saying the same thing. VA Doctors verify we have what we're complaining about, but VA denies us, even after new laws are written...Presumptive Service? I was diagnosed in 2000 and denied, nothing's changed....
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Booker commented
I 've seen 4 different VA doctors 3 has documented that i have CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME(GULF WAR ILLNESS).The 4th doctor at C@P examine denied me but documented i have CHRONIC FATIGUE but not the syndrome.WHAT? I have 5 of the 6 criteria for this disease. It doesn't matter if i had one criteria i have the disease. Things like this just fustrate me. Now i am waiting to see what they say on my appeal. They told me a few weeks ago my appeal will take 2-3 years. I am coming up on year 2 now. Thats crazy! Nonsense like this needs to change.
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janet commented
So, each VA is different, avoid west palm beach and the denver VA, too.
How dare they do this. Contact your Congressman re VA issues in Ohio. That's what we pay them for. Search their site, they have one for Veterans/ Medicare issues, anything to do with the government. Votes do matter... So. we shall "SPRING" those on Wallstreet, too.
Good luck with your claims, try American Legion or VFW or the VA rep, NOT the patient rep, they work for the hosp, not for you. On the main VA page, va.gov says they are paying for GWI.. -
George commented
Where is the results of the Gulf War Registry? I should think that there has been enough vets through there to show some trends.
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Ezjay commented
I am a Gulf War Vet, Got a letter stating I was in the area when the Chemicals were blown up, took shots I was told I qualified for cause I was far enough north, took PB pills, got bitten by flies, didn't have a single fresh fruit or vegitable, or egg, drinked "desalmanized water"...went through it all. Made a "Claim for Gulf War Illness", Gulf War Related Illness", Gulf War Syndrome"...all were turned down because the word / phrase doesn't exist. All this reading is fine, but where does it state, we are going to be re-looked at? Where does it state we are going to receive compensation? I started in 2000, I have skin rash that shows up and disapears, joint pain, memory loss, "SLEEP APNEA"...and I'm forgetting what else. For sure I'm frustrated, Tired, Mad! I live and work in Germany. Is it true what they say, "We are the Bastards of the VA?" For sure Help is slow coming over here.
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Andrew Harris commented
We all have many issues with the VA and I'm certain those who were denied far outweigh the approved. What really amazes me with the gulf war vets, including myself, most who are ill suffer from similar diseases, pain and outbreaks. If it was a small group then I would understand however, if you research the testimony and filings amongst GWV it is mostly similar in nature. What really saddens me are the veterans who suffer from these illnesses however, cannot back it up due to negative test results. Therefore, the claims are denied due to insufficient evidence. Last, through my experience dealing with the C&P do not give up. It seems that they want to put you through all of the red tape only to give you a minimal rating or denial. Then, only then it is hoped that you will simply go away. Again, fight for what you think is right!
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Dennis Burton commented
Please hire more qualified Vets to Clean up all of the back logs in all department of the VA. You have Law and Administrative that have been train very well. Start a program that will last at least three years all more and clean up the mess. Don't delay do it NOW!
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JP Maier commented
I think a great deal of functional efficiency and organizational credibility could be garnered if VAHQ would develop a better oversight of regional claim decisions. As a vet and former VA employee I have travelled around to many VAMCs and gotten to visit with many GWvets and have found that the VFW has gathered an impressive data set of adjudication inconsistencies that follow distinct patterns by region. It would behoove the HQ staff to be ahead of this when the VFW releases it to Congress early next year. It is unfortunate when TWO veterans with nearly identical claims receive wildly different decisions which can be predicted by region. It becomes criminal when thousands get them AND an external agency has to identify the problem.
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JASON BLACKWOOD commented
I put in a claim in 94. Aching joints, acid reflux and other gastrointenstenal problems, aching muscles, migrane headaches, short term memory loss, dislocating joints, unable to concentrate and think clearly, unable to retain information and shortness of breath (you know that feeling you can't get addiquet air in your lungs). This was done before all these fancy reports came out. As of lately I have been tested for TBI, which came up negative. So now I'm left with what is
wrong? I have been getting these lung infections, possibly bronchitis, that goes on for months at a time. My doctor was baffeled when not one but three strong antiobotics were given to me and none would work. I tried Advere and that seemed to help. I have had xrays done on my hips (they dislocate out of the hip joint) The physical therapist just says I am very flexible at my age.
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David LaShell commented
This is a very interesting statement and in all areas I agree with except one...the last sentenance "an assessment with VHA and DOD upon seperation". Unless this is well defined it sounds just like the Gulf War Registry. If a peer review in association with veterans advocates such as those in the VARACGWI is agreed upon then this goes by the wayside like Gulf War Exams. If the interest of the veterans are considered then it is another fight we have to prove.
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glendon taylor commented
as a persian gulf vet i have been diagnosed with copd and pulmonary fibrosis am on oxygen 24/7 albuterol treatments 4 times a day plus inhaler the va provides it all but was denied compensation
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James Laubler commented
Larry is correct. I have many of those pains. But, my Xrays come out negative for arthritus and rhumetoid.
I have memory problems, too. They even tested me in California at the war injury center. They said my memory is bad BUT I figured out how to work around it.
Wish I could give you a thumbs up on them looking at memory. They just don't believe it. -
Larry Ward commented
Gi problems, breathing problems, skin problems, aches and pains in joints, swelling, just a few of the ailments I have had since leaving the Gulf War. Memory loss is also starting to become a problem. Are they Gulf War related??? I do not know. Thanks
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Gary commented
I wish the VA would go back and review the claims that were denied benefits. I filed claims for Chronic Fatigue, Hearing Loss, and Gastrointestinal problems (which I was Med-Vac'ed out of theater for). ALL claims were denied, none of them were presumed service connected, even the ones which the VA diagnosed me with. I filed these claims in 1992, tried to re-open the claims in 1993 0r 1994 (can't really remember).
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michael commented
I feel exactly like most about how VBA's claim adjudication process for fairness is varied across the board from RO to RO when it comes to GW claims. Even with fast letters, Training letters VBA is still not adjudicating claims according to current laws and regulations. So the veteran is left in long claims time-frame . VBA is often trying to direct service connect veterans for presumptive illnesses and this leaves the veteran is bad situation. Not only veterans losing their homes but also the impact this has on the family unit is not quantifiable. Yes many veterans eventually will receive favorable claim adjudication if merit-ted with back pay. However, It is hard to to explain to a child why you a veteran who served their country cannot provide the basic needs such as clothes or food. Often relying on others for help. Somebody needs to take a good look at these claims track them and see why so many are being denied only to be overturned with DRO or BVA, I understand there are many claims but there are many more people who suffer because of these simple mistakes and red tape dealing with claim adjudication process.
Please look into these issues to reduce number of homeless veterans and improve the VA claims process
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Anonymous commented
The VA does a great job in Washington via legislation. However, the Regional Offices do exactly what they want to do when it comes to GW Vets. And the Regional offices only apply what comes out of Washington when it suits their means.
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James Laubler commented
The three comments that precede me are on target. I thought our GWI was to be presumptive. I applied over a year ago to upgrade me from 40%. As a retiree, the Concurrent Pay is killing me. My wife is 64 and still works to keep things running at home.
I have tingling in both arms from my right hand to my left and everything in between. I was just taken off Lamictal XR (warns it can cause death) because it didn't help. I've seen NUMEROUS Neurologists and the can't figure it out. One doctor said he thinks it is the nerve tips at the skin which can't be measured. I've been shocked so many times I'm starting to become a battery.
The point is this: When your disability takes you out of the work force, when the VA takes years to review your file, when you can't play with your grandchildren nor pets, you tend to get a little depressed. It took years to find the right drugs to give me the advantage. Now, I just think about suicide rather than try it. I need to feel my wife isn't being punished. She did her service and hurt her health for a while but wouldn't tell me on the war front. PLEASE. Back us up like you said you would. -Jim Laubler, Special Forces Retired
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JASON BLACKWOOD commented
Additionally, the VA comp and pension dept. would serve us better by thuroughly looking over our medical history and look at the symptoms, from past to present, related to presumed illnesses set forth by the VA. The veteran is at bat and hits one out to left field. Don't just assume the ball is going to land where your standing, but rather, take the extra steps to make a sound catch/decision on our claims.
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JASON BLACKWOOD commented
I would have to agree that it is next to impossible in proving a gulf war illness exists in a veteran when dealing with the VA. Every time I bring up issues I am having all I get is that deer in the headlights look, and they, the VA, quickly dismiss it thus blaming it on something else other than my service in south west asia. The DOD and the VA don't want to admit that we, veterans, were exposed to chemical weapons in Kuwait- as well as the toxins found in the oil wells we were highly exposed to. Full disclosure is what we need and want. Take care of us. When there is a history of a possible illness, and doctors don't know how to diagnose it, we the veteran, are left to fend for ourselve's. Proof and evidence is in the eye of the beholder-an opinion at best when it comes to the VA.