VA Publishes Final Regulation on “Presumptive” Illnessesfor Gulf War and Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans                                                     The 2006 report differed from the four prior reports by looking at the long-term health effects of certain diseases determined to be pertinent to Gulf War Veterans.  Secretary Shinseki decided to include Afghanistan Veterans in these presumptions because NAS found that the nine diseases are also prevalent in that country.                                                                                           The 1998 Persian Gulf War Veterans Act requires the Secretary to review NAS reports that study scientific information and possible associations between illnesses and exposure to toxic agents by Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War.                                                                                                    While the decision to add the nine new presumptives predates VA’s Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force (GWVI-TF), the overarching responsibility of the GWVI-TF is to regain Gulf War Veterans’ confidence in VA’s health care, benefits, and services and reconfirm VA is 100 percent committed to Veterans of all eras.  The GWVI-TF began in fall 2009 and is not a static, one-time initiative but will continue to build on its work with annual reports issued every August.  The group’s focus centers on unanswered Gulf War Veterans’ health issues, improving access to benefits, ensuring cutting edge research into treatments, and to make sure Veterans’ concerns are heard and addressed.  This includes continuing to solicit Veterans, experts, advocates and stakeholders to share their views to better inform the important work of the GWVI-TF.                                                                                                Disability compensation is a non-taxable monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled as a result of an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service.                                                                                                   Last year, VA received more than one million claims for disability compensation and pension.  VA provides compensation and pension benefits to over 3.8 million Veterans and beneficiaries.                                       Currently, the basic monthly rate of compensation ranges from $123 to $2,673 for Veterans without any dependents.             #  #  #

Sign-Up for our FREE Veteran Newsletters and FREE Veteran Alerts. Full name:  * required Email address:  * required Comments: I agree to receive FREE veteran newsletters and alerts. Yes No