59 results found

1. The VBA's and the VAMH's just don't communicate with each other or verify the medical condition properly and timely.

   As someone who had a great involvement with the VBA's and VHA's, I have witnessed too many times the misunderstanding or lack of communicating, coordinating and cooperation from both sides to the Veterans and Their Families. The VA uses their M-21R to base their decisions not Title 38 the regulatory law or follow the statutory law of 38 USC, they don't update their e-benefits for their current status, they don't communicate with the VSO's, CVSO's, and National or State VSO's on a continued basis. And I would highly suggest that every veteran who had served during the PGW, (1990-1991) be re-evaluated every two to five years. It took me almost 22 years to realize I needed help badly and I had recognized this because I was a Veterans Service Advocate with over 17 years of experience, but saying that we don't have any medical problems with Undiagnosed illnesses and yet they are diagnosed as illnesses by the VHA and not the VBA. Do you see a problem with this. Also our gallant media had informed all the people of the US that we all are either crazy, mentally ill, and useless to our society. Who's fault is it. THE VBA's and THE VHA's or is it our own DOD and politician's who want a Free Ride. It's WE THE People, WE THE VETERANS who need the help but just don't get it when asked. If it wasn't for our Vietnam Veterans and Warriors we wouldn't have gotten anything. CWO3 James K. Kaupe, Jr., USMC, (Ret. & Disabled).

   As someone who had a great involvement with the VBA's and VHA's, I have witnessed too many times the misunderstanding or lack of communicating, coordinating and cooperation from both sides to the Veterans and Their Families. The VA uses their M-21R to base their decisions not Title 38 the regulatory law or follow the statutory law of 38 USC, they don't update their e-benefits for their current status, they don't communicate with the VSO's, CVSO's, and National or State VSO's on a continued basis. And I would highly suggest that every veteran who had served during the PGW, (1990-1991) be… more

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2. Y'all are the smartest dumb people I have ever seen !

   Just pay everybody compensation who served there and call it a day.

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3. gulf war tracking system for exposed veterans should be cross referenced with Allied Forces Gulf War Veterans Data Bases for Treatments. En

   Neurologists in colleges around the world should be presented with the challenge to solve Gulf War Syndrome. Give them a "Dr. House" problem.

   If you open it to the upcoming doctors that have no prejudices, or drug company lobby backing them or military choke hold on them you may actually solve the problem. We have assumed that all the Task Forces have had the military members interest at the root, when in fact they are using tomb stone rational instead. What is tomb stone rational? It is used in many industries such as aviation, wait until a flaw causes enough deaths to make it necessary to fix it. In Gulf War Illness' case, they let Gulf War Syndrome people die anonymously without fan fare, no news reports at rates so excessive that it would shock the public if it were published.

   So, I offer that you need an "uncontaminated" doctor foundation to actually study Gulf War Syndrome to solve the problem. One that has no political interest. That would have to be the new doctors too young to remember the Gulf War in the first place.

   Neurologists in colleges around the world should be presented with the challenge to solve Gulf War Syndrome. Give them a "Dr. House" problem.

   If you open it to the upcoming doctors that have no prejudices, or drug company lobby backing them or military choke hold on them you may actually solve the problem. We have assumed that all the Task Forces have had the military members interest at the root, when in fact they are using tomb stone rational instead. What is tomb stone rational? It is used in many industries such as aviation, wait until a flaw causes enough… 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.

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

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5. Nurological deficits from Pyrostigmine Bromide, Environmental Exposure, and Sarin Gas.

   After being evaluated by a Neuropsychologist and a baseline established each review thereafter suggested that the conditions were progressively getting worse. I am to the point that I have bad tremors, random crossing of the eyes, dominant hand deficit, cognition deficit, balance issues, etc. When I asked the psychologist what was happening she said that neurologic toxins work in two ways; systemically or dynamically. That is in the first case consistent and on-going neurologic damage and in the second, it would be a one time event with no further deterioration. In my case it was systemic, and the events that have occurred over time support that conclusion. We were billeted next to a Saudi trash dump that burned night and day and the smoke hovered over our area. Saudi's are not environmentally conscience. We patrolled when oil wells soaked our skins and clothing. We were told to take PB a medication used to treat other kinds of medical conditions, unapproved injections for biologic warfare, and finally CBR alarms would go off in our cantonment area after SCUD attacks. That is not to say they had Sarin payloads, only that prior munitions loaded into them may have contaminated them. Shooting down a SCUD does not render it harmless; all that junk still falls to the ground.

   I was told by my Psychologist that the government will never admit to this since the mantra at the time was there were no CBR in theater and not to look for any serious treatment or further investigation.

   I believe that the Task Force needs to buckle down and do serious research without government bias and try to determine what kind of neurological issue each vet has, and what kind of treatment protocol needs to take place to at least let each vet have some quality of life instead of the "Deer in the Headlight" looks we get from our PCP. Maybe our PCPs really don't know what to do. We need to smarten them up.

   After being evaluated by a Neuropsychologist and a baseline established each review thereafter suggested that the conditions were progressively getting worse. I am to the point that I have bad tremors, random crossing of the eyes, dominant hand deficit, cognition deficit, balance issues, etc. When I asked the psychologist what was happening she said that neurologic toxins work in two ways; systemically or dynamically. That is in the first case consistent and on-going neurologic damage and in the second, it would be a one time event with no further deterioration. In my case it was systemic, and the events that… more

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6. Expand the different types of primary/ secondary illnesses from the Gulf War.
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7. Stop denying Gulf War Illness existed years before there was a Gulf War!

   Stop denying Gulf War Illness existed years before there was a Gulf War, and start including everyone so afflicted in your studies.

   So many members of my unit were sick that I reported the situation to the Environmental Health people at Ft Bragg in the mid 1980s, only to be told they'd been "Ordered to not look into it." Calling this "Gulf War Illness" is simply a way of limiting government liability and leaves many people undiagnosed and untreated, not to mention uncompensated, simply because they inconveniently became ill somewhere other than the Middle East.

   I've been told by those managing the Gulf War Illness registries at several VA hospitals that they have many people with the same symptoms, but are not allowed to include them on the registry or in any studies because those people didn't serve in Desert Storm.

   You can't find the cause of any illness if you aren't willing to study ALL those so afflicted but limit your attentions to only one small group of people. This issue is much larger than the Gulf War, and must be addressed in its entirety in order to discover the true cause.

   Stop playing politics and start actually acting as though you're interested in health care. Start studying and treating all those with Gulf War Illness symptoms regardless of where or when they served.

   Stop denying Gulf War Illness existed years before there was a Gulf War, and start including everyone so afflicted in your studies.

   So many members of my unit were sick that I reported the situation to the Environmental Health people at Ft Bragg in the mid 1980s, only to be told they'd been "Ordered to not look into it." Calling this "Gulf War Illness" is simply a way of limiting government liability and leaves many people undiagnosed and untreated, not to mention uncompensated, simply because they inconveniently became ill somewhere other than the Middle East.

   I've been told by those… more

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8. Fiduciary program revision

   The fiduciary program was great at helping me to save and budget my money While suffering with a Traumatic Brain Injury. However it did nothing to help me resolve my past credit issues. Consequently, if my credit issues were resolved I would have to spend less money for Rent, Homes, and Insurance. It would also make me more employable for ceratin jobs who run your credit. The VA should develop a comprehensive program to help Veterans who are rated incompetent to budget smartly and restore their credit so that they can become more viable in the community.

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9. add a section that allows a gwv to report negligence by a doctor or facilty like in my case

   Gulf war hotline
   To report negligent doctors who prescribe the wrong meds that has caused additional pain and risk to the vet and his family.
   To report the games that have been played while trying to obtain records.
   To report deliberate false entrys in records to cause additional problems.

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10. provide all vet the NOV 2008 publication

    Provide the pub to the vets once they have told any nurse or doctor of their gw problems.
    Gulf war illness and the health of gulf war veterans
    Scientific findings and recommendations
    Research advisory committee on gulf war veterans illnesses
    Va.gov/RAC-GWVI NOVEMBER 2008
    
    Since they spent millions upon millions collecting the info
    It was the food in most cases....

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11. Persian GUlf War Registry Washington DC VAMC, Desert Storm Doctor was incompetent.

    Went to do Registry exam in local VAMC.
    I did it before in 1993 in SF, in NC and now in DC. ALso I did one Registry exam in NC, registrar for Persian Gulf registry could not find me in their VA MC computers. She said that I was missing. Also I have documents proving that I existed and went to the Gulf War exams in NC in 1996. It really set my mind off, and I started to go thru all the daocuments related to me and VAMC. I found letter about Khamisiyah and other.I spoke with Doctor from Persian GUlf war clinic about my symptoms and problems like we all know. He said that "We all die. Why veterans htink that they are better then others? we all die and we all need help. It blew me off. I talked with American Legion rep. VSO about it he said: we have a freedom of speech in this country. So all could do is to write about doctor and his remarks about veterans and death and that we are not special - like everybody who was not in those Desert Storm anti anthrax pills places to VA.
    I have freedom of speech also and I use my right to express what I feel. anyway I think that doctors and staff in DESERT STORM clinic should be more attentive and educated in this. They have it all. But they dont want to admit Khamisiyah also it is all there on the letter.
    Actually this doctor from Desert Storm clinic who told to me that veterans are not special and all it infalted too much, said to me, that
    DOD SHould NOT mail this letter to Veterans who were in KHAMISIJYA. He said that it was a MISTAKE to send to us this letter.
    I just did not answer. and left.
    I know that this doctor moved to another agency .
    Olga E Roemer, KNECHT in Persian GUfl War, KKMC

    Went to do Registry exam in local VAMC.
    I did it before in 1993 in SF, in NC and now in DC. ALso I did one Registry exam in NC, registrar for Persian Gulf registry could not find me in their VA MC computers. She said that I was missing. Also I have documents proving that I existed and went to the Gulf War exams in NC in 1996. It really set my mind off, and I started to go thru all the daocuments related to me and VAMC. I found letter about Khamisiyah and other.I spoke with Doctor from… more

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12. Change the policy on Veterans that work for the VA who file disability claims.

    Veterans who are employed by the VA can receive all their treatment and needs at the VA hospital where they work. But you are not authorized to have your disability claim from the same hospital. Our honor and integrity should not be questioned.

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13. Develop an actionable roadmap with funding tied to specific programs with MOEs and MOPs.

    This report is lacking in purpose, direction and clear linkage to funding intent. I would rewrite the report.
    
    Specifics: Your report lacks a detailed vision and simple road map that integrates funding by fiscal year across the FYDP, with milestones, associated projects and associated decision points.
    
    GAPs: I found no measures of performance or effectiveness tied to your programs (big red flag). What is the end state for each action and the expected outcome?
    
    After so many years of inaction I expected a clear path forward for research, evaluation and funding. Interestingly, I found that funding is still lacking. The official VA budget for FY2013 actually cuts Gulf War illnesses research two-thirds from $15 million in the FY12 budget to $4.86 million for FY13 the amount actually spent in FY12, $4.98 million. The VA staff also cut Gulf War illness research spending in FY12 by two-thirds compared to what Congress and the Secretary approved. Your report also indicates that other non-gulf war programs were funded with the so called “dedicated funding” to Gulf War Veterans.
    
    On a personal note, you know the evaluation and research process is broken when a "gulf war registered" active duty soldier is surveyed only once since 1990-91. How can the VA understand what is going on with our population? There is a lack of correlational data.
    Broken programs can be fixed with dynamic leadership and strong advocacy. It is time to get busy and to do your job as an effective staff. I like many others am still doing my job and I will be back in Afghanistan in a couple of months and then retirement. I can’t believe how ineffective we have been up to this point. We can’t even add clarity to gulf war syndrome after 20+ years. The least we can do is articulate the way forward in a simple and clear manner: Numerically ID priorities. ID associated milestones, MOPs, MOEs and expected impact indicators of success. Understand the problem first. That means invest in research that targets specific sub-populations. Clearly, some Gulf War Veterans were without a doubt exposed to Sarin and mustard gas. Know what is identifiable and conduct your research accordingly and objectively. We have missed years of data up to this point. Compare the results to other studies of chemical exposure, integrate controls and render findings.
    Thanks for asking for my opinion and we (the soldiers) do appreciate the VA's process of transparency and willingness to embrace constructive feedback.

    This report is lacking in purpose, direction and clear linkage to funding intent. I would rewrite the report.
    
    Specifics: Your report lacks a detailed vision and simple road map that integrates funding by fiscal year across the FYDP, with milestones, associated projects and associated decision points.
    
    GAPs: I found no measures of performance or effectiveness tied to your programs (big red flag). What is the end state for each action and the expected outcome?
    
    After so many years of inaction I expected a clear path forward for research, evaluation and funding. Interestingly, I found that funding is still lacking. The… more

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14. Common sence

    I think there needs to be a way for the Vets to use their VA ID card to see someone outside the VA. My husband has had problems even getting someone to answer the phone at the VA healthcare center let alone getting an appointment. Why can't they (if it is a service connected issue or if you have a rating high enough to be seen at the VA for anything including sevice connection) use the VA ID card like a medical card. In our case it could be used as a secondary insurance, but in other cases it could be used as a primary such as medicare is. I have been told on more than one occation that they awear no one aswers the phone and that they are overwhelmed with patients. So this would take some of the load off the VA hospital, and with the rise in Gulf War Illness it only makes sence to do something like this. Instead of telling patients you have to wait 6,7,or 8 months for an appointment. My husband waited 11 months to see his PCM at the VA and by that time they kicked him out of the system. How is that his falt??? Wake up WASHINGTON!!! It is not fair to let our Vet suffer like this.

    I think there needs to be a way for the Vets to use their VA ID card to see someone outside the VA. My husband has had problems even getting someone to answer the phone at the VA healthcare center let alone getting an appointment. Why can't they (if it is a service connected issue or if you have a rating high enough to be seen at the VA for anything including sevice connection) use the VA ID card like a medical card. In our case it could be used as a secondary insurance, but in other cases it could… more

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15. My ideas are very simple,it explains what most Gulf War Vets were exposed to.As most combat arms veterans know mission first.

    My idea is simple to allow Gulf War veterans to have more resources to better understand their illness. There are many areas in and around the Country that don't have a VA medical center or many veterans don't have computers to read articles and updates on the Gulf War. Therefore the VA needs to allow the military and or local medical offices to evaluate these veterans. The information from unknown exposure will only help the VA to treat our Vets. There are 10 of hundreds that will never see or read updated information. Also health departments should play a roll. We have asked and many are still hurting and have no answers as to what may have caused these illnesses. The VA is working hard see and hear the stories of exposure during the war; however they need to do more. My tour of duty was during operation "Provide Comfort" as an Army engineer we were exposed to many health dangers from numerous Kurds that had active TB, water that we bath in was contaminated, and used bleach to make the water safe, burning of feces from latrines, diarrhea from unsanitary soldiers and foods, and symptoms that made our biological equipment alarm that was never explained, and medical personnel that were our only source of treatment many who were young and needed books to explained treatment. These are just a few. My symptoms range from migraine headaches to joint pain and feeling tired all the time, not to forget sleep. Many Vets know that VA center work to try and use words that are difficult for Veterans to understand and there always stating that we are not the CP doctors. It appears the VA is doing another paper work red shuffle to wait us out and most will drop the process and or forget to apply for treatment. In closing I just want to say how is such a great Nation is a "Super Power" without the men and women that make our "Super Power". Make the call and answer the request for treatment and hire the doctors that are not just playing the numbers.

    My idea is simple to allow Gulf War veterans to have more resources to better understand their illness. There are many areas in and around the Country that don't have a VA medical center or many veterans don't have computers to read articles and updates on the Gulf War. Therefore the VA needs to allow the military and or local medical offices to evaluate these veterans. The information from unknown exposure will only help the VA to treat our Vets. There are 10 of hundreds that will never see or read updated information. Also health departments should play a roll.… more

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16. More studies need to be performed on GW Veterans

    As a Gulf War Veteran, I have suffered from digestive issues since returning in April of 1991. I have had numerous procedures and "FINALLY" I have a specialist actually going to look at my small bowel. This is the very first time EVER that a specialist has made mention of this examine. So my suggestion is if there are thousands of service members suffering from digestive issues and they are part of this Gulf War Illness Task Force, I would suggest that the gastroenterology do both procedures as the same time, colonoscopy and an endoscopy. If nothing comes of that, then they need to have the service member swallow a camera to examine the small bowel, simply because the scopes can not reach that organ because of the location. There is also blood work that can be done to see if there is a certain parasite in our system causing these problems. Just because a Veteran has multiple issues with their stomachs/digestive system don't give them a diagnosis because then they will have more concerns. If you don't know what is causing our problems, put down "UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS." It is always better to have something "unknown" then to give it a name and then find out that you truly never had it. Stop taking all the short cuts and do the right thing. It is about time that VA owns up to the fact that the PB pill is linked to a majority of our health issues. My question is on all these studies that have been conducted has there been enlisted personnel included on these studies? If not, then why? I only ask b/c it seems as though all of the segments that I see on the news; 60 minutes, CNN and other news outlets the only ones that seem to be getting everyone's attention is the officers. Why is that? Isn't it time that you actually interview and study those of us that actually were exposed to certain elements while in theater? It is hard for me to grasp that with all this technology we have today that the amount of money VA has approved in the past; 2.8 million dollars in 2010 that you have not found out what has caused these health problems in us Veterans. There are residuals that have been caused by the GWS and yet you have no answers, why? I mean in 2010 VA approved 2.8 million dollars for research, in early 2013 funding was reduced from 15 million to 4.9 million but yet there is no more information today then there was two decades ago. So where is the money going if there is no research being done? Who's pockets are getting fatter, while us service members try to figure out what is wrong with us? I don't know about other Veterans but I am sick and tired of my health condition. Now don't get me wrong, I have always been proud to say that I served my country with true honor and I would never turn my back on her; unlike our elected officials, the VA and countless other organizations have done. How can anyone that is affiliated with the VA, who is in a position to make something happen just close their eyes to what is right in front of them? Whatever happened to 'ethics' in the work place as well as in your personal life? So according to a report from the Environmental Health Perspective dated 19 Sept 2011 those of us in the Army that wore uniforms treated with pesticides, and took the PB pills were more than likely subjected to multivariables. This publication can be located on http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003399 and the research belongs to Lea Steele, Antonio Sastre, Mary M. Gerkovich and Mary R Cook. There is also an interesting article in January/February 2012 magazine in reference to Gastrointestinal system and how it is linked to the deployments and service members still have issues long after their deployments have ended, note my deployment ended in April of 1991 and I have had to deal with this for 22 years. Wake up VA and take care of us. Just like the many comments about sleep apnea should be an automatic for those of us serving in theater. This diagnose is something that truly is linked to the Gulf War and there should not be any questions asked when a service member shows proof of this disability.

    As a Gulf War Veteran, I have suffered from digestive issues since returning in April of 1991. I have had numerous procedures and "FINALLY" I have a specialist actually going to look at my small bowel. This is the very first time EVER that a specialist has made mention of this examine. So my suggestion is if there are thousands of service members suffering from digestive issues and they are part of this Gulf War Illness Task Force, I would suggest that the gastroenterology do both procedures as the same time, colonoscopy and an endoscopy. If nothing comes of that,… more

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17. Counseling

    My husband came home and started counseling, buy it stopped becuase the VA Center in Gainesville, Fl just wanted to do married coo\uples

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18. Possible link between ALS and MS in Gulf War Veterans, and MS Presumptive Period

    Possible link between ALS and MS in Gulf War Veterans, and MS Presumptive Period

    page 33 of the 2012 draft report - "In addition, ORD is committed to funding research that improves VA’s understanding and ability to treat illnesses, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may occur at higher prevalence in Gulf War Veterans."

    It is my understanding research has shown ALS "does occur" at higher prevalence, and the VA's own webpage for MS Centers of Excellence states "New Study of Gulf War Era Veterans Shows High MS Incidence Rates". It is also my understanding MS rates increased substantially for the Kuwait population in the years following the first Gulf War.

    I am curious as to why the words "may occur" (not a definitive statement) are still being used in the Task Force report. Is it still not known whether or not MS "does" or "does not" occur at a higher prevalence in Gulf War veterans?

    I'm also curious as to the reasoning for the presumptive period regarding MS in relation to a service-connection disability. If MS is presumed to be related to military service, why is the connection tied to the individual's date of discharge?

    I would encourage a study to determine the time period for when MS first manifested in First Gulf War Veterans who have this disease. In other words, if two Desert Storm veterans began showing symptoms of MS in 2001, with one being discharged in 1992 and the other being discharged in 1998, it is my understanding only the latter would be considered service-connected.

    In the event MS "does" occur at a higher prevalence in Gulf War Veterans, or veterans in general, I would submit it should be a presumptive disease, without any restrictions (ie the seven-year period). I would think doing studies which include all veterans with MS, not just ones who are "service-connected" would serve to help understand potential causes and possible treatments for this disease, helping not just veterans, but the entire MS population.

    Respectfully,
    A First Gulf War Veteran

    Possible link between ALS and MS in Gulf War Veterans, and MS Presumptive Period

    page 33 of the 2012 draft report - "In addition, ORD is committed to funding research that improves VA’s understanding and ability to treat illnesses, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may occur at higher prevalence in Gulf War Veterans."

    It is my understanding research has shown ALS "does occur" at higher prevalence, and the VA's own webpage for MS Centers of Excellence states "New Study of Gulf War Era Veterans Shows High MS Incidence Rates". It is also my understanding MS… more

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19. gulf war tracking system for exposed veterans should be cross referenced with Allied Forces Gulf War Veterans Data Bases for Treatments. En

    Gulf War Illness and Symptoms should be cross referenced with Allied Force Gulf War troops. England, Australia, Germany, Spain, etc... These countries are dealing with Gulf War Syndrome as well and they have data bases of information on both SUCCESSFUL and unsuccessful treatments. They also have databases of information that a computer could process together.

    I would add in the data on the people and children that are in the countries Gulf War Veterans fought in such as Liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City where we lined up all the captured tanks and artillery. Then when we released that many of those pieces were drenched in radioactive sludge to increase it's armament ability. Then years later all those children that had been playing on war trophies started to show signs of Gulf War Syndrome!!!!!! This information should be added to the same data base.

    Gulf War Illness and Symptoms should be cross referenced with Allied Force Gulf War troops. England, Australia, Germany, Spain, etc... These countries are dealing with Gulf War Syndrome as well and they have data bases of information on both SUCCESSFUL and unsuccessful treatments. They also have databases of information that a computer could process together.

    I would add in the data on the people and children that are in the countries Gulf War Veterans fought in such as Liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City where we lined up all the captured tanks and artillery. Then when we released that many… more

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