APNewsBreak: VA to reopen Gulf War vets' files

[Akoto]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Veterans Affairs Department will re-examine the disability claims of what could be thousands of Gulf War veterans suffering from ailments they blame on their war service, the first step toward potentially compensating them nearly two decades after the war ended.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said the decision is part of a "fresh, bold look" his department is taking to help veterans who have what's commonly called "Gulf War illness" and have long felt the government did little to help them. The VA says it also plans to improve training for medical staff who work with Gulf War vets, to make sure they do not simply tell vets that their symptoms are imaginary - as has happened to many over the years.

"I'm hoping they'll be enthused by the fact that this ... challenges all the assumptions that have been there for 20 years," Shinseki told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview.

The changes reflect a significant shift in how the VA may ultimately care for some 700,000 veterans who served in the Gulf War. It also could change how the department handles war-related illness suffered by future veterans, as Shinseki said he wants standards put in place that don't leave veterans waiting decades for answers to what ails them.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GULF_WAR_ILLNESS?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[MurrayDelph]

1. It's too late to help a friend of mine,

who developed (and died from) Fibromyalgia some time after getting one of those "mystery meat" inoculations before Gulf War I. But it might help his widow.

And a co-worker from my last job developed Crohn's disease after being deployed there.

We really need to treat our veterans better (Of course, the best way to support the troops is to not deploy them unless they are REALLY needed).

[Rapier09]

2. DU rounds

Kind of an odd coincidence.

[grahamhgreen]

3. Good luck soldiers, it ain't over yet!

[earth mom]

4. Or maybe this is a way for them to take away benefits from those who already have them?

I don't think the military really cares all that much about vets.

If they did there would not be homeless vets on the streets.

Also, my husband just said tonight that years ago, when he had a staph infection in his foot, he didn't know what the military gave him to cure it because they wouldn't tell him.

He said he often felt like a medical guinea pig. :yoiks:

[bhcodem]

5. Veterans Access to Care Act-Bruce Braley

More good news for older Vets. My friend Bruce Braley (D-IA) is pushing for mental health care for vets from as far back as Veit Name era.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=273660

[Judi Lynn]

6. U.S. to Reconsider Benefits for Ill Gulf War Veterans

FEBRUARY 26, 2010, 3:12 P.M. ET.
U.S. to Reconsider Benefits for Ill Gulf War Veterans

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department said it will look again at the rejected claims of veterans who say their Gulf War service caused a mysterious illness, the first step toward potentially compensating them nearly two decades after the war ended.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said the decision is part of a "fresh, bold look" his department is taking to help veterans who have what's commonly called "Gulf War illness" and have long felt the government did little to help them. The VA says it also plans to improve training for medical staff who work with Gulf War vets, to make sure they do not simply tell vets that their symptoms are imaginary—as has happened to many over the years.

"I'm hoping they'll be enthused by the fact that this ... challenges all the assumptions that have been there for 20 years," Mr. Shinseki told the Associated Press in an interview.

in how the VA may ultimately care for some 700,000 veterans who served in the Gulf War. They also could improve the way the department handles war-related illnesses suffered by future veterans, because Mr. Shinseki said he wants standards put in place that don't leave veterans waiting decades for answers to what ails them.

More:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704625004575089620494985524.html?mod=WSJ_World_LEFTSecondNews