VA Notes Association of Gulf Service & Disorder

[douglas9]

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will assume an association between military service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and later development of functional gastrointestinal disorders, when assigning benefits. The applicable disorders are medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.
When the VA assumes an association, it relieves the veteran applying for benefits of having to supply evidence of the connection between the veteran's service and the malady.
The new assumption implements a decision by the Secretary of the VA based on a 2010 National Academy of Sciences report.




http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/18/38253.htm

[pinboy3niner]

1. Finally!

VN vets labored for a long time under rules requiring evidence of exposure to Agent Orange--even though it was used to defoliate our bases and was in the rivers and streams from which we filled our canteens.

The stories about the widespread illnesses of Gulf War vets are heartbreaking, and it's well past time for the DVA to recognize presumptive service connection.

And I'm proud of Vietnam Veterans of America, which declared at its formation, "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another," for helping to make this happen.


:patriot:

[Sadie5]

2. Nice to find this

My SIL has been out of the Navy for 2 1/2 years and can't work due to his intestinal problems. The VA will not certify him more than 50% disabled. He has a family to support and although they say he can work, he has been sent home from 3 jobs, and they still keep denying him his disability benefits. There are many who have returned from Iraq that have this intestinal problem yet they do nothing about it.He spent 8 1/2 years in the Navy.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Yes, but it may or may not not help your SIL

If any part of his current rating already acknowledges service connection for his gasrointestinal problems, he'll still have to keep fighting for justice.

But if it has not been recognized yet, this should streamline his way to a decent (in his case, 100%) rating.

Best of luck to your SIL, and I thank him for his service and sacrifice and the toll it is taking in his life.

:patriot:

[Sadie5]

4. thanks for the reply

His life has been hell since he has been home. He worries that he can't support his family. He was accepted in the local police academy but was sent home on day one due to his constant trips to the bathroom, they did give him unemployment but that is long gone. He also got a few other jobs through the temp agency as that seems to be the only jobs around. They say they can'
t use him anymore due to his problem. He has proof out the wazoo that he can't work yet they still keep denying him. Does anyone have any suggestions for who to contact.